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Taking samples of bacteria from 29 lakes in Norway, scientists found several strains of the bugs that grow hale and hearty by eating the remains of plastic bags that can drift into open waters.
The researchers took water samples containing bacteria from the lakes and then added bits of “plastic leachate,” the microscopic bits of carbon that result when the bags begin to break down.
When the plastic leachate was added in concentrations normally found in lakes, relevant bacteria grew 2.29 times bigger than they normally do by eating carbon dissolved from leaves and twigs.
The bacteria find it easier to digest plastic leachate, the scientists discovered.
Once they grow big and strong by downing plastic waste, the bugs also are better able to break down harder-to-digest plant-based carbon remainders.
TRENDPOST: It’s not surprising that some bacteria eat plastic waste; bugs have been found or bred that munch on everything from dynamite to nuclear waste.
These newly identified plastic-eating bugs could play a key role in reducing plastic pollution in lakes and rivers, which, in turn, would keep even more plastic from filling our oceans.
Before that can happen, careful studies would be needed to find what their own waste products would be, how their populations could be kept from booming, and other unintended side effects that could result.
Until then, we’ll just have to get into the habit of taking reusable bags to the store.