Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Design for Wastewater Treatment
Published on: May 2, 2025
Ozone treatment ameliorates oil sands process water toxicity to the mammalian immune system
Erick Garcia-Garcia1, Jun Qing Ge, Ayoola Oladiran
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Abstract:
We evaluated whether ozonation ameliorated the effects of the organic fraction of oil sands process water (OSPW) on immune functions of mice. Ozonation of OSPW eliminated the capacity of its organic fraction to affect various mouse bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM) functions in vitro. These included the production of nitric oxide and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, the production of reactive oxygen intermediates and the expression of NADPH oxidase subunits, phagocytosis, and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes. Ozone treatment also eliminated the ability of OSPW organic fraction to down-regulate the expression of various pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine genes in the liver of mice, one week after oral exposure. We conclude that ozone treatment may be a valuable process for the remediation of large volumes of OSPW.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Oxidative Cleavage of Alkenes: Ozonolysis
Ozone is a symmetrical bent molecule stabilized by a resonance structure.
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Bioremediation
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water

