Varanasi: A group of teachers from Banaras Hindu university has developed a bio-reactor to filter harmful gases emanating from industrial units."The bio-reactor uses pseudomonas and bassilus bacteria to filter volatile organic compound (VOC) gases, which emanates from the industrial units," RS Singh, a faculty member of the chemical engineering department of the university said.

VOCs refers to organic chemical compounds which can affect the environment and human health.VOCs such as tolvin, benzene, zialin, tri-chloro compounds and ethylene which emanate from industries, petroleum products and paints affect cell-structure of humans.These compounds can cause cancer and breathing-related problems, SK Dubey said, a faculty member of the botany department, said. Courtesy:DNA