Scientists at the University of Piacenza, Catholic University in Italy, have discovered a group of bacteria that live in soil that can decompose PFAS chemicals.
This study offers a promising new strategy to combat the widespread pollution caused by these “eternal pollutants” associated with serious environmental and health risks.
PFAS (one person and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals found in everyday items such as non-stick cooking utensils, cosmetics, food packaging, and cleaning products.
Their durability and water replenishment properties have made them a staple food for industrial applications since the 1940s, but have also pose a lasting threat to ecosystems and human health.
Discovering solutions in contaminated soil
The study, led by Professor Edoardo Puglisi of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Environmental Sciences at the Catholic University, focused on PFAS-contaminated sites in the Veneto region, particularly the provinces of Vicenza and Padua.
These areas tackle severe PFA contamination, with water source concentrations above 1,000 ng/L, possibly the result of decades of industrial discharge.
In collaboration with Padua University, the team isolated about 20 unique bacterial strains from affected soil.
These microorganisms demonstrate a remarkable ability to use PFAS chemicals as their sole carbon source, essentially “feeding” contaminants.
How bacteria were identified
To identify these promising microorganisms, scientists combined traditional microbiology methods with advanced metabal codes. This is a genetic sequencing technique that reveals the complete microbial diversity of environmental samples.
Bacteria were grown in lab conditions where PFAS chemicals were the only available energy source through a target process known as “enrichment.”
Genomic sequencing of isolated bacteria revealed classification within known bioremediation genera such as Micrococcus, Rhodanobacter, Pseudocantomonas, and Anorabacter.
These bacteria are not only safe to deal with in laboratory settings, but also easy to grow, making them suitable candidates for future environmental applications.
High degradation rate
Clinical tests measuring failure rates of PFAS chemicals showed promising results. In some cases, these microorganisms achieved degradation rates above 30%. This is an important achievement for a class of compounds considered almost indestructible.
The next phase of the study will focus on testing bacteria under more realistic environmental conditions.
These experiments aim to assess the efficiency of degrading different types of PFA and to explore the genetic mechanisms behind its ability.
A sustainable future for repairing PFA
The discovery of these PFA-degrading bacteria is a major milestone in the quest for environmentally friendly solutions to chemical pollution.
With further development, this study could lead to scalable biotechnology applications, such as engineered bacteria and life measurement strategies to detoxify affected soil and water systems.
As PFAS chemicals continue to pose global environmental and public health challenges, this pioneering work provides a faint light of much needed hope for sustainable remedial efforts.
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