diff --git a/code/database.py b/code/database.py
index 2123f59..800deb1 100644
--- a/code/database.py
+++ b/code/database.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from dotenv import load_dotenv
 from configparser import ConfigParser
 from pathlib import Path
 import logging
+import os
 
 
 # load default values
@@ -21,6 +22,20 @@ def connect(
     """
     Connect to MongoDB database and return collection.
     """
+    # load environment variables
+    load_dotenv()
+    ip_addr = os.getenv(
+        'DB_IP_ADDRESS', 
+        default=DB_IP_ADDRESS
+    )
+    db_name = os.getenv(
+        'DB_NAME',
+        default=DB_NAME
+    )
+    collection_name = os.getenv(
+        'DB_COLLECTION_NAME',
+        default=DB_COLLECTION_NAME
+    )
     # connect to database
     client: MongoClient = MongoClient(ip_addr)
     db = client[db_name]