Marine Fungus Solution to Plastic Pollution: Breaking Down Polyethylene at 0.05% Daily—What This Means for Our Oceans

A marine fungus has been discovered to degrade polyethylene at a consistent rate of 0.05% daily under UV light exposure.

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Though CO2 is a byproduct of this process, the volume emitted by the fungus is comparable to human respiration, posing minimal environmental threat.

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The effectiveness of Parengyodontium album hinges on its exposure to sunlight, a critical factor for its plastic-degrading ability.

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This breakthrough was published in 'Science of the Total Environment,' shedding light on the potential of fungi in ocean cleanup efforts.

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Researchers emphasize the need for further exploration of marine fungi that could degrade plastic at deeper ocean levels.

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Parengyodontium album, a marine fungus, now joins the short list of known species that can break down the plastics polluting our oceans.

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This discovery opens up discussions about the broader implications of biodegradation as a tool against the escalating issue of marine plastic waste.

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Isolated by researchers at NIOZ, this fungus reveals new hopes for addressing critical plastic pollution hotspots in the North Pacific Ocean.

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By utilizing marked carbon in plastics, scientists track how polyethylene is transformed into carbon dioxide during fungal degradation.

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