The Plastic Eating Fungi of the Man-Made Plastisphere: A Solution to Tackle Plastic Pollution
A recent discovery of plastic-eating fungi could be the key to tackling the man-made ‘plastisphere’. Scientists have identified the fungus Pestalotiopsis microspora as a potential agent to break down polyurethane, a synthetic plastic used in many everyday items. This is the first discovery of its kind, as most fungi are unable to break down this type of plastic. The fungus was found growing on plastic debris in the Amazon rainforest and has been shown to degrade the plastic in as little as six weeks. The implications of this discovery could be huge, as it could lead to future degradation methods for the millions of tons of plastic waste polluting the world’s oceans and landfills.
source: Phys.org