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PAUL STAMETS ’ ST ATEMENT

ON M YC O RE M EDI ATION AND ITS APP LI C ATI ONS TO OI L

SPI L LS

The BP oil spill has inflicted enormous harm in the Gulf of Mexico and will continue to do so for months, if not
decades, to come. I have many thoughts on this disaster. My first reaction is that when the skin of the Earth is
punctured, bad things can happen.

Clearly, this disaster could and should have been prevented. Despite all their assurances of safety, BP and/or
BP’s subcontractors, failed to ensure the functionality of the emergency equipment on the Deep Horizon rig.
The oil industry claims that further regulation will handcuff them, but it is now obvious that more steps need to
be taken to prevent a catastrophe like this from ever happening again.

However, this spill did happen, and we now must deal with the aftermath. Although estimates have been that
BP could be liable for more than 14 billion dollars in clean up damages, very few in the media have mentioned
the long-term, generational consequences of this oil spill. There will inevitably be a surge in cancer cases,
widespread degradation of wildlife habitat, and an array of diverse and complex strains on local communities,
our nation, and the planetary ecosphere as a whole. We all know that the seas are connected, and ultimately our
biosphere suffers globally when suffering locally. Now as the hurricane season approaches, we may see
catastrophes converge to create what may be the greatest ecological disaster in hundreds of years.

While we will need a wide array of efforts to address this complex problem, mycoremediation is a valuable
component in our toolset of solutions. Mycoremediation has demonstrated positive results, verified by scientists
in many countries. However, there is more oil spilled than there is currently mycelium available. Much more
mycelium is needed and, fortunately, we know how to generate it.

Here is what we know about mycoremedation, based on tests conducted by myself, my colleagues and other
researchers who have published their results. (See attached references.)
What we know:

1.) More than 120 novel enzymes have been identified from mushroom-forming fungi.
2.) Various enzymes breakdown a wide assortment of hydrocarbon toxins.
3.) My work with Battelle Laboratories, in collaboration with their scientists, resulted in TAH’s (Total
Aromatic Hydrocarbons) in diesel contaminated soil to be reduced from 10,000 ppm to < 200 ppm in 16
weeks from a 25% inoculation rate of oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) mycelium, allowing the remediated soil
to be approved for use as landscaping soil along highways. (Thomas et al., 1999)
4.) Oil contains a wide variety of toxins, many of which are carcinogens.
5.) Mycelium more readily degrades lower molecular weight hydrocarbons (3,4,5 ring) than heavier weight
hydrocarbons. However, the heavier weight hydrocarbons are reduced via mycelial enzymes into lighter
weight hydrocarbons, allowing for a staged reduction with subsequent mycelial treatments.
6.) Aged mycelium from oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) mixed in with ‘compost’ made from
woodchips and yard waste (50:50 by volume) resulted in far better degradation of hydrocarbons than oyster
mushroom mycelium or compost alone.
7.) Oyster mycelium does not degrade keratin-based hair as it produces little or no keratinases, whereas other
mold fungi such as Chaetomium species (which include some high temperature-tolerant leaf mold fungi)
produce keratinases.
8.) Worms die when put into contact with high concentrations of hydrocarbon saturated soils, but live after
mycelial treatments reduce the toxins below the lethal thresholds.
9.) Spring inoculations work better than fall inoculations as the mycelium has more time to grow-out.
Bioregional specificities must be carefully considered.
10.) Amplifying native mushroom species in the bioregion impacted by toxic spills work better than non-native
species.
11.) More funding is needed to better understand and implement mycoremediation technologies.
12.) Oil spills will occur in the future – we need to be ready for them!

What we don’t know:

1.) The effect of salt water on the growth of mycelium on hair mats soaked in oil? The Presidio project with
Matter of Trust did not test the hair mats used to soak up the Cosco Busan oil spill in San Francisco bay.
The hair mats that were tested were ones that were put into contact with motor oil and Bunker C oil
collected from the bowels of the Cosco Busan, without saltwater.
2.) The differential gradients of decomposition of the complex oil constituents from contact with Oyster
mushroom mycelium? Different toxins degrade at different rates when placed into contact with mycelium.
3.) The variables that influence the success of mycoremediation, particularly since the targeted toxins are often
complex mixtures of volatile and non-volatile hydrocarbons.
4.) How many other species of fungi could be applied for mycoremediation beyond the few that have been
tested? Up to now, Oyster mushroom mycelium (Pleurotus ostreatus) has been tested successfully but there
are literally thousands of other species yet to be tested for mycoremediation.
5.) How each fungal species used pre-selects the subsequent biological populations and how these further
enable plant communities as habitats recover from toxic waste exposure?
6.) Whether or not the mushrooms grown on decomposing toxic wastes are safe to eat.
7.) To what degree of decomposition by mycelium of toxic soils makes the soils safe for food crops.
8.) How economically practical will it be to remove mushrooms that have hyper-accumulated heavy metals -
will this be a viable remediation strategy? Which species are best for hyper accumulating specific metals?
9.) How to finance/design composting centers around population centers near pollution threats?
10.) How to train – on a massive scale – the mycotechnicians needed to implement mycoremediation?
11.) How to fund ”Myco-U’s”, learning centers with emphasis on implementing myco-solutions to human made
and natural catastrophes?
12.) How extensively and diverse will mycoremediation practices be needed in the future?
.

How can we help?

Knowing that the extent of this disaster eclipses our mycological resources should not be a reason to not act.

I proposed in 1994 that we have Mycological Response Teams (MRT’s) in place to react to catastrophic events,
from hurricanes to oil spills. We need to preposition composting and mycoremediation centers adjacent to
population centers. We should set MRT’s into motion, centralized in communities, which are actively involved
in recycling, composting and permaculture - utilizing debris from natural or manmade calamities to generate
enzymes and rebuild healthy local soils.

There is a unique opportunity here. By encouraging strategically placed gourmet mushroom production centers
near debris fields from natural and human-made disasters, we can open a pathway for mycoremediation. The
‘aged compost’ that is produced after mushrooms are harvested is rich in enzymes - a value-added by-product
and this ‘waste’ product is aptly suited for mycoremediation purposes. What most people do not realize is that
most mushroom farms generate this compost by the tons and are eager for it to be used elsewhere.

On a grand scale, I envision that we, as a people, develop a common myco-ecology of consciousness and
address these common goals through the use of mycelium. To do so means we need to spread awareness and
information. Please spread the word of mycelium. Educate friends, family and policy makers about mycological
solutions. Bring your local leaders up the learning curve on how fungi can decompose toxins, rebuild soils and
strengthen our food chains. What we lack is the widespread availability of mycologically skilled technicians and
educators and a more mycologically informed public. We need a paradigm shift, a mult-generational
educational infrastructure, bringing fungal solutions to the forefront of viable options to mitigate disasters. An
unfortunate circumstance we face is that the field of mycology is poorly funded in a time of intense need.

To support this expanded mycological awareness, I offer my books as resources - especially Mycelium Running:
How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World and Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms. Also, please see
my talk on Ted.com (www.ted.com/speakers/paul_stamets.html) – this is an excellent primer for those wanting
to understand how mushrooms and fungi can help mitigate disasters and heal ecosystems.

Let's become part of the solution. We may not have all the answers now but we can work towards an integrated
strategy, flexible in its design, and yet target specific to these types of disasters. We should work in preparation
to resolve ecological emergencies before and after they occur. Together, we can protect and heal our
communities and ecosystems.

For the Earth, Paul Stamets

 THE PROBLEM: OIL IS A COMPLEX MIXTURE OF TOXIC HYDROCARBONS

Not many people, even experts, fully grasp the diverse range of toxins that are present in oil. Bunker C oil is
used as a fuel, particularly in cargo ships, and is especially ‘dirty’. Here is a list of some of the hydrocarbons
typically found in Bunker C oil:

TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED SOLUTION: MYCOMEDIATION RESOURCES

Notable Mycoremediation Texts & Articles

Rec om men ded te xts:

Gadd, G. 2001. Fungi in Bioremediation. Cambridge University Press.

Singh, H. 2006. Mycoremediation: fungal bioremediation. Wiley Interscience.

Stamets, P. 2005. Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World. Ten Speed Press,
Berkeley, California.
See:
http://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=WY3YvfNoouMC&oi=fnd&pg=PR19&dq=thomas+mycoremediation&ots=
sVHZl7ldJf&sig=7-CPpExyi0GiaJ5uBbH5MZ96zyM#v=onepage&q&f=false

Rec om men ded ar tic le s:

M. Bhatt, T. Cajthaml and V. Šašek, 2001. “Mycoremediation of PAH-contaminated soils.” Folia

Microbiologica, Springer Netherlands,Volume 47, Number 3 / June, 2002.

See: http://www.springerlink.com/content/v828007473427405/

Giubilei, Maria A; Leonardi, Vanessa; Federici, Ermanno; Covino, Stefano; Šašek, Vaclav; Novotny,
Cenek; Federici, Federico; D'Annibale, Alessandro; Petruccioli, Maurizio, 2009, June. “Effect of mobilizing
agents on mycoremediation and impact on the indigenous microbiota” Journal of Chemical Technology &
Biotechnology, Volume 84, Number 6, June 2009, pp. 836-844(9). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

See: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/jws/jctb/2009/00000084/00000006/art00006

Šašek, V., John A. Glaser, Philippe Baveye, 2000. “The utilization of bioremediation to reduce soil
contamination: Problems and Solutions.” Nato Science Series IV. Earth and Environmental Sciences vol.
19.

See:
http://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=KhaNJf1QMREC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=sasek+why+mycoremediations+h
ave+not+worked&ots=7aSzZxY7ZA&sig=Vv2VIWusFUxMqh4xp-401jvLlOM#v=onepage&q&f=false

Thomas T., P. Becker, M.R. Pinza , J.Q. Word, 1999.

“Mycoremediation of Aged Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminants in Soil.”
NASA no. 19990031874.
See:
http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=TRD&recid=N9916965AH&q=thomas+mycore
mediation&uid=789448112&setcookie=yes

Copyright (2010) by Paul E. Stamets.