Microbiology is the study of microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, fungi and similar

organisms that can't be seen with the naked eye. The need to study these minute organisms
started when scientists discovered the association of microbes to specific diseases. The roles of
microbiology on the advances in the healthcare industry, especially in pharmaceutical and
medical industry have led to great discoveries, from vaccines to devices. This paper therefore,
attempts to describe the importance of microbiology in the practice of environmental health.

As stated above, the study of microorganisms is called microbiology. A microorganism is a

microscopic organism, which may be a single cell or multicellular organism. In other words, an
organism of microscopic or submicroscopic size, especially a bacterium or protozoan. They are
very diverse and include all the bacteria and archaea and almost all the protozoa. They also
include some members of the fungi, algae, and animals such as rotifers. They live in every part
of the biosphere including soil, hot springs, on the ocean floor, high in the atmosphere and deep
inside rocks within the Earth's crust.

Microorganisms are vital to humans and the environment, as they participate in the Earth's
element cycles such as the carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle, as well as fulfilling other vital roles
in virtually all ecosystems, such as recycling other organisms' dead remains and waste products
through decomposition. They also have an important place in most higher-order multicellular
organisms as symbionts (symbiotic organisms).

However, there are a number of reasons why microbiology is important in the practice of
environmental health. Therefore, microorganisms affect the world in a myriad of different ways,
some of which are outlined below.

Microbes are essentially protectors of the planet, ensuring that minerals such as carbon and
nitrogen are incessantly recycled. They play a crucial role in keeping the atmosphere oxygenated
and also actively degrade dead organic matter, thus transforming organic carbon back into
carbon dioxide. Talaro et al. (2002) pointed out that micro-organisms are critical to the processes
of decomposition required to cycle nitrogen and other elements in the natural environment.

Infectious diseases have the capacity to wipe out entire populations, and microbiology is the key
to keeping outbreaks under control. The study of microscopic organisms allows scientist to
develop antibiotics and vaccines, with revelations such as Alexander Flemming’s discovery of
penicillin saving millions upon millions of lives. According to Alexander (1977), most illnesses
are caused by microorganisms. The study of these microorganisms can help combat them.
Laboratory test is used to study these organisms. Samples of a patient’s body fluid are tested to
determine whether the causes of their ailments are results of bacteria, viruses, nematodes, fungi
etc.

Furthermore, from antibiotics and solvents to preservatives and pharmaceuticals, microbes are
used to create a myriad of useful products that we take for granted. Uncovering these chemical
reactions and retailing them as commercial goods shapes the face of life as we know it. For
instance, vaccine is an important products that manufactured by microorganism in
pharmaceutical industry. Pelczar et al. (1988) defines a vaccine as a biological preparation that
improves immunity to a particular disease. However, a vaccine typically contains an agent that
resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of
the microbe, its toxins or one of its surface proteins. The agent stimulates the body's immune
system to recognize the agent as foreign.

Moreover, microbiology finds its way into environmental health in the study of food poisoning
cases for individuals affected by gastrointestinal ailments. Mild forms of microorganisms are
intravenously placed in the body to induce immunity as in the case of smallpox, measles,
poliomyelitis and yellow fever. This is used in vaccination, one of the most important aspects of
environmental health.

When it comes to creating soils that can support crops and livestock, microbes are indispensable.
Studying microbiology helps farmers to optimize nitrate levels and maximize output. Some of
the commonly promoted and used beneficial microorganisms in agriculture worldwide include
Rhizobia, Mycorrhizae, Azospirillum, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Trichoderma, Streptomyces
species and many more. Concerns about the possible health and environmental consequences of
using increasing amounts of mineral fertilizers and chemical pesticides have led to strong interest
in alternative strategies to ensure competitive yields and protection of crops.
Besides, Talaro et al. (2002) states that in agriculture, microbiology have many uses. Some
microorganisms are beneficial, some are harmful. Soil microbes (bacteria and fungi) are essential
for decomposing organic matter and recycling old plant material. Some soil bacteria and fungi
form relationships with plant roots that provide important nutrients like nitrogen or phosphorus.
Fungi can colonize upper parts of plants and provide many benefits, including drought tolerance,
heat tolerance, resistance to insects and resistance to plant diseases. The main importance of
microbes in agriculture is the involvement of microbes in nutrient transformation processes, such
as; Nitrogen cycling, Carbon cycling, Sulfur cycling, Phosphorus cycling and Bio-fertilizers.

Microorganisms recycle nutrients in the environment, by decomposing organic materials.

Organic materials, such as animal carcasses and tree trunks, decay by the action of decomposing
microbes, which are also responsible for getting rid of industrial and household waste. Through a
process called biodegradation, microbes use nutrients and chemical substances found in the
environment for their own survival. The nutrients from the breakdown of these products are free
in the environment to feed plants or algae, which in turn feed all animals (Alexander, 1977: 277).

Above all, people have used bacteria, yeasts and other microbes to produce many foods and
beverages since ancient times. Bread is the result of a microbial fermentation of sugars to
produce carbon dioxide, which are liberated in the dough making the bread rise. Microbes are
also fundamental in the production of beer and wine, converting sugars into alcohol. Microbial
fermentation is also a step during the chemical process of waste recycling.

In conclusion, microbiology plays an important role in our life: helps us to digest our food,
decompose wastes and participate in various life cycles. Microorganisms has great beneficially
effects other than causing disease and damage to life. Different kinds of microorganisms that
have been carried out many biotic processes beneficial for biotechnology, agriculture and
industry and moreover necessary for sustaining life and our surrounding environment like soil,
water and atmosphere as well. Essential uses of microorganisms are seen in the environment, as
they play a vital role in many of the nutrient cycles. In addition, microorganisms are vital
participants of the food chain since they act as decomposers. Involvement of microorganisms in
the nitrogen cycle demonstrates that they are not just beneficial for humans, but are significant to
plants as well. Moreover, microorganisms digest harmful chemicals, such as pollutants and
chemical wastes produced by the industry through a process known as bioremediation, thus
protecting the environment and human health.
 REFERENCES

Alexander, M. (1977), Introduction to Soil Microbiology. John Willey and Sons, New York.
pp. 277.

Pelczar, Jr. M. J. E. C. S. Chan and N. R. Creig; (1988). Microbiology. Tata McGraw-Hill,

publishing company limited, New delhi. pp. 560-580.

Talaro K. P.; and Talaro Arthur. (2002). Foundation in Microbiology. Mcgrow-Hill

Companies, Inc. pp. 444-464.

Madigan M. and Martinko J. (2006 b). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (13th ed.). Pearson
Education. pp. 1096.