[Southern California Permaculture] Paul Stamets/The Petroleum Problem & Mycoremediation

[Margie Bushman, Santa Barbara Permaculture Network]

Written at the time of the BP Oil Spill in the 
Gulf of Mexico, but great info on 
bio-remediation, or mycoremediation with fungi.



PAUL STAMETS’ STATEMENT ON MYCOREMEDIATION
AND ITS APPLICATIONS TO OIL SPILLS

http://www.fungi.com/blog/items/the-petroleum-problem.html


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 mycoremediation, based 
on tests conducted by myself, my colleagues and 
other researchers who have published their results. (See attached references.)


Oil being absorbed by mushroom mycelium

Oil being absorbed by mushroom mycelium

What we know:
1) [Update] We now know that one of our strains 
of Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) is 
tolerant to saltwater exposure. The mycelium 
fully colonizes salt water soaked straw. Our 
tests with MycoBooms™ (see below) are being 
conducted in the waters of the Puget Sound, the 
average salinity of which is approximately 3.3%, 
only .2% less than the average salinity of the world's oceans.
2) Straw that has been inoculated with Oyster 
mushroom mycelium floats, making it a potential 
candidate for use in water-borne mycelial containment/filtration systems.
3) More than 120 novel enzymes have been 
identified from mushroom-forming fungi.
4) Various enzymes breakdown a wide assortment of 
hydrocarbon-based toxic substances.
5) 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; Thomas, 2000)
6) Oil contains a wide variety of toxic 
substances, many of which are carcinogens.
7) 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.
8) 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.
9) 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.
10) Worms die when put into contact with high 
concentrations of hydrocarbon saturated soils, 
but live after mycelial treatments reduce the 
toxic substances below the lethal thresholds.
11) Spring inoculations work better than fall 
inoculations as the mycelium has more time to 
grow-out. Bioregional specificities must be carefully considered.
12) Amplifying native mushroom species in the 
bioregion impacted by toxic spills work better than non-native species.
13) More funding is needed to better understand 
and implement mycoremediation technologies.
14) Oil spills will occur in the future­we need to be ready for them!

Oyster mushrooms producing on oil contaminated soil

Oyster mushrooms producing on oil contaminated soil (1–2% = 10,000–20,000 ppm).
We do not recommend eating food crops from 
contaminated soils. Photo credit: Susan Thomas.

Oyster mushrooms producing on oil contaminated soil

Soil toxicity reduced in 16 weeks to less than ~ 
200 ppm, allowing for plants, worms and other species
to inhabit whereas control piles remained toxic 
to plants and worms. Photo credit: Susan Thomas.

What we don’t know:
1) The differential gradients of decomposition of 
the complex oil constituents from contact with 
Oyster mushroom mycelium. Different toxic 
substances degrade at different rates when placed into contact with mycelium.
2) The variables that influence the success of 
mycoremediation, particularly since the targeted 
toxic substances are often complex mixtures of 
volatile and non-volatile hydrocarbons.
3) 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.
4) 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?
5) Whether or not the mushrooms grown on 
decomposing toxic wastes are safe to eat.
6) To what degree of decomposition by mycelium of 
toxic soils makes the soils safe for food crops.
7) How economically practical will it be to 
remove mushrooms that have hyper-accumulated 
heavy metals­will this be a viable remediation 
strategy? Which species are best for hyper accumulating specific metals?
8) How to finance/design composting centers 
around population centers near pollution threats.
9) How to train­on a massive scale­the 
mycotechnicians needed to implement mycoremediation.
10) How to fund ”Myco-U’s”, learning centers with 
emphasis on implementing myco-solutions to human made and natural catastrophes.
11) How extensively and diversely will 
mycoremediation practices be needed in the future?

Pouring crank case oil onto oyster mushroom compost

Pouring crank case oil onto oyster mushroom 
compost after it has produced several crops of mushrooms

New crop of mushrooms form several weeks later

New crop of mushrooms form several weeks later. 
The spores released by these mushrooms have the
potential­as a epigenetic response­to pre-select 
new strains more adaptive to this oil-saturated substrate.

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 (MRTs) 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 MRTs into motion, 
centralized in communities, which are actively 
involved in recycling, composting and 
permaculture­utilizing debris from natural or 
man-made calamities to generate enzymes and rebuild healthy local soils.

I see the urgent need to set up webinar-like, 
Internet-based modules of education to 
disseminate methods for mycoremediation training 
so people throughout the world can benefit from 
the knowledge we have gained through the past 
decade of research. Such hubs of learning could 
cross-educate others and build a body of 
knowledge that would be further perfected over 
time, benefiting from the successes and failures 
of those in different bioregions. The cumulative 
knowledge gained from a centralized data hub 
could emerge as a robust yet flexible platform 
that could help generations to come. Scientists, 
policy makers, and citizens would be empowered 
with practical mycoremediation tools for addressing environmental disasters.

There are additional opportunities 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 enzymes­a 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.

The scope and continuing magnitude of the 
Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill is unprecedented, 
and calls for unprecedented responses. Time to 
'think outside the box'. Here is, perhaps, one 
path to a solution in response to the BP oil 
spill disaster. This is experimental and not yet 
proven, but I think this approach merits serious 
testing, and may be especially applicable inside 
of the containment booms, and along marshlands.

We are currently testing "MycoBooms™"; straw 
colonized with oyster mushroom (Pleurotus 
ostreatus) mycelium encased in hemp-tubes.

Mycoboom" floating in saltwater

Mycoboom™ floating in saltwater in Totten Inlet, 
southern Puget Sound near Kamilche Point, Washington.

Oil absorbtion of Oyster mycelium on straw

Oil absorbtion of Oyster mycelium on straw

Progression of oil absorbtion of Oyster mycelium 
on straw floating in oily water over a three
day period. Note absorption of oil into above 
water line and emergence of clear patch of water.

Among the potential advantages of the MycoBooms are these:

1) Straw colonized with Oyster mushroom mycelium 
floats, making MycoBooms potentially suitable for 
both oil absorbtion/remediation and for corraling 
and containing oil slicks. Moreover, myceliated 
straw and woodchips could be broadcasted between 
the shoreline and the containment booms to create 
a floating debris field to capture and degrade hydrocarbons.
2) Mycelium and straw both absorb oil.
3) Oyster mushroom mycelium emits enzymes that 
can break down oil continuously for weeks, if not 
months, thus starting the decomposition of oil 
process, reducing the complex hydrocarbons into simpler, more unstable forms.
4) Oyster mushroom mycelium supports 
non-pathogenic bacterial communities as they age, 
which in turn can break down oil in their own way.
5) MycoBooms in hemp socks are fully biodegradable.
6) As mycelium outgasses and mushrooms form, 
fungus gnats and flies are attracted, and fish, 
bird, bat and insect populations may further 
benefit from an emerging food resource.

Oyster mushroom fruiting from the end of a MycoBoom"

Oyster mushroom fruiting from the end of a MycoBoom™

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 toxic 
substances, 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 
multi-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 resources­especially Mycelium 
Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World 
and Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms. 
Also, please see my talk on 
<http://www.ted.com/speakers/paul_stamets.html>Ted.com­this 
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.

- See more at: 
http://www.fungi.com/blog/items/the-petroleum-problem.html#sthash.scyaAQce.dpuf


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margie at sbpermaculture.org
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