A strain of bacteria evolved to eat plastics

Scientists sifting through a plastic bottle recycling plant in Osaka, Japan, found a type of bacteria strain that has adapted to consume common types of plastic. The bacteria known as, Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6, can erode poly (ethylene terephthalate), or PET and PETE, in a matter of six weeks, according to a report in the Christian Science Monitor. The study was originally published on Thursday in the journal Science.

PET is typically used in polyester fibers, disposable bottles, and food containers. The type of plastic is usually labelled inside the bottle, and in the last two examples, No.1 is marked inside. Scientists reassure that consumers should still use plastic or that this strand of bacteria is dangerous. The study’s purpose was to examine if the particular bacteria could degenerate PET under laboratory conditions.

“We hope this bacterium could be applied to solve the severe problems by the wasted PET materials in nature,” Kohei Oda, one of the study authors, released in an email. But “this is just the initiation for application.” More research has to be done, however, to make this a pragmatic solution to plastic pollution.

But I. sakaiensis 201-F6 is only effective on land-based plastic pollution. PET’s compounds are denser in water, which means they more easily sink towards the bottom. The other trillions of tons of plastics floating in the oceans consist of other types for which the bacteria is ineffective. Additionally, marine organisms have evolved to adapt to the saltwater and sunlight that other sediment-based bacteria might have not.

Nonetheless, this strain of bacteria could be applied to accelerate the deterioration of landfill plastics. But this study does show that “the environment is evolving and you get the microbes evolving along with that as well,”said Giora Proskurowski, an oceanographer at the University of WashingtonProskurowski. “These are evolving systems.”

Image credit: PBS.org