Indian scientists discover fungi that can degrade polythene

12 Dec 2019

Indian scientists discover fungi that can degrade polythene

Indian scientists discover fungi that can degrade polytheneThree scientists from Savitribai Phule Pune University, in Maharashtra, have discovered fungi which can potentially be used to degrade polythene (type of plastic).

The three scientists collected samples from 12 different locations in five states — Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat. These locations were near the sea, had mangrove trees, but also a lot of plastic waste.
 	They found that Aspergillus terreus and Aspergillus sydowii fungi could degrade polythene in a non-toxic way.
 	While similar fungi have been found in other places globally, the researchers found the two fungi to be more effective than the rest.
 	However,  these tests were conducted only in a lab. So, further tests in open environmental conditions are needed to ensure that the findings can make a real impact.

The scientists have published their report in the Scientific Reports journal.

This is potentially a huge breakthrough as plastic pollution is an ever-increasing problem. While burning and recycling of plastic are options to get rid of plastic waste, finding a biodegradable option is the most eco-friendly (which the new discovery can be).

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Three scientists from Savitribai Phule Pune University, in Maharashtra, have discovered fungi which can potentially be used to degrade polythene (type of plastic). The three […]

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