Surprising discovery shows scale of plastic pollution and reveals enzymes that could boost recycling.
The study is the first large-scale global assessment of the plastic-degrading potential of bacteria and found that one in four of the organisms analysed carried a suitable enzyme. The researchers found that the number and type of enzymes they discovered matched the amount and type of plastic pollution in different locations.
The results “provide evidence of a measurable effect of plastic pollution on the global microbial ecology”, the scientists said.
/Passle/60211dc9e5416a0c14bc63d4/MediaLibrary/Images/2024-07-25-19-34-58-437-66a2a8e2012a075bf2d3886e.jpg)
/Passle/60211dc9e5416a0c14bc63d4/SearchServiceImages/2026-08-28-21-08-00-332-6a91f8b0de355275bbc2047e.jpg)
/Passle/60211dc9e5416a0c14bc63d4/SearchServiceImages/2026-09-01-19-40-59-331-6a972a4bf9386af8ea707113.jpg)
/Passle/60211dc9e5416a0c14bc63d4/SearchServiceImages/2026-09-03-11-57-48-238-6a9960bc7466c353608a92a5.jpg)




