Scientists discovered that certain bacteria found in sewage treatment plants might be able to break down PFAS—harmful chemicals that don’t naturally disappear from the environment. These “forever chemicals” are used in many products like non-stick cookware and water-resistant clothing. In lab experiments, researchers found that two types of bacteria called Sulfurospirillum could remove fluorine atoms from a specific PFAS compound when given the right food sources. This discovery suggests a potential biological way to clean up these persistent pollutants that currently accumulate in our water and soil.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether bacteria in sewage sludge could break down and remove fluorine from a specific type of forever chemical (PFAS) in laboratory conditions
  • Who participated: Laboratory experiments using 233 different bacterial genomes (genetic blueprints) from municipal sewage treatment sludge, tested over 80 days
  • Key finding: Two previously unknown types of Sulfurospirillum bacteria successfully broke down the PFAS compound and released fluorine when given certain food sources like formate and acetate, suggesting these bacteria could be used to clean up contaminated environments
  • What it means for you: This research suggests a potential biological solution for cleaning up forever chemicals in water and soil, though it’s still in early laboratory stages and would need further testing before real-world application

The Research Details

Scientists took sludge from municipal sewage treatment plants and created controlled laboratory environments to test whether bacteria could break down a specific forever chemical called PFMeUPA. They added different food sources (like formate, acetate, and lactate) to see which ones helped bacteria break down the chemical most effectively. They monitored the process for 80 days, measuring how much fluorine was released and tracking which bacteria became more abundant over time. They also analyzed the genetic material of 233 different bacterial genomes to identify which ones had special genes related to handling fluorine.

The researchers tested various conditions to understand the process better. They added vitamin B12 to see if it would help (it didn’t), and they used a chemical to block methane-producing bacteria to see if those bacteria were involved (they weren’t). This systematic approach helped them narrow down exactly which bacteria were responsible for breaking down the chemical.

The study focused on one specific forever chemical with different types of chemical bonds, which made it a good test case for understanding how bacteria might break down other similar pollutants.

Forever chemicals are extremely difficult to break down naturally, so finding biological methods could revolutionize how we clean up contaminated water and soil. Understanding which bacteria can do this work and what conditions they need is essential before this approach could be used in real treatment plants. This research identifies specific bacterial candidates and shows what food sources help them work best.

This is a controlled laboratory study published in a respected environmental science journal. The researchers used multiple approaches to identify the bacteria responsible, including genetic analysis of 233 different bacterial genomes. However, this is early-stage research conducted in test tubes and laboratory containers, not in real-world environmental conditions. The results suggest promise but would need additional testing to confirm effectiveness in actual water treatment or soil remediation scenarios.

What the Results Show

When researchers added certain food sources to the bacterial cultures, the bacteria successfully broke down the forever chemical and released fluorine ions. Formate, acetate, methanol, and lactate all worked as food sources that stimulated this breakdown process. After 80 days, two specific types of bacteria from the Sulfurospirillum genus became much more abundant in the samples where the chemical was being broken down, compared to control samples without the chemical or without added food.

The researchers identified two previously unknown bacterial strains (labeled A_bin.69 and M_bin.68) that appeared to be the main workers breaking down the chemical. These bacteria had a special gene called crcB that helps them handle fluorine, which the researchers suggest could be used as a marker to find other bacteria capable of similar work.

Interestingly, vitamin B12—a compound that typically helps bacteria break down other types of halogenated chemicals—had no effect on this process. Additionally, blocking methane-producing bacteria didn’t stop the breakdown, showing that this particular process doesn’t depend on those bacteria.

The study found that different food sources had varying levels of effectiveness, with some working better than others at stimulating the breakdown process. The research also revealed that the bacteria could survive and thrive in the anaerobic (oxygen-free) conditions typical of sewage treatment plants, which is important for potential real-world applications. The genetic analysis showed that bacteria with the crcB gene were significantly enriched in the treatment groups, suggesting this gene is a useful marker for identifying other defluorinating bacteria.

Previous research has shown that forever chemicals are extremely resistant to biodegradation, with most bacteria unable to break them down. This study advances the field by identifying specific bacteria that can accomplish this task and showing that it’s possible under anaerobic conditions (without oxygen). While other studies have explored breaking down different types of forever chemicals, this research focuses on a specific compound with multiple types of chemical bonds, providing new insights into bacterial capabilities.

This research was conducted in controlled laboratory conditions over 80 days, which may not reflect what happens in real environmental settings or over longer time periods. The study focused on one specific forever chemical, so results may not apply to all types of PFAS. The bacteria were grown in test tubes with added food sources, which is very different from natural environments where food availability might be limited. Additionally, the study doesn’t show whether these bacteria could effectively clean up contaminated water or soil at a practical scale, or how quickly they would work in real-world conditions.

The Bottom Line

This research suggests that using bacteria from sewage treatment plants could potentially be part of a solution for cleaning up forever chemicals in water and soil. However, this is still experimental research, and much more testing would be needed before this approach could be used in actual water treatment facilities or environmental cleanup projects. Current confidence level: Low to Moderate—the findings are promising but preliminary.

Environmental scientists, water treatment professionals, and policymakers concerned with PFAS contamination should pay attention to this research. People living in areas with PFAS-contaminated water supplies might eventually benefit from improved treatment methods based on this work. However, this research is not yet ready for individual consumer applications or home-based solutions.

This is very early-stage research. It would likely take several years of additional laboratory testing, followed by pilot studies in actual treatment facilities, before any practical applications could be developed. Real-world implementation, if successful, might be 5-10 years away.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Users interested in environmental health could track their exposure to products containing PFAS (non-stick cookware, water-resistant clothing, food packaging) and monitor local water quality reports for PFAS contamination levels in their area
  • Users could reduce PFAS exposure by choosing PFAS-free alternatives for cookware and clothing, filtering drinking water with certified PFAS-removing filters, and staying informed about local water safety advisories
  • Set monthly reminders to check local water quality reports, track purchases of PFAS-containing products, and monitor news about PFAS research developments and potential treatment solutions in your area

This research is preliminary laboratory work and does not yet represent a proven treatment method for PFAS contamination. Do not rely on this information for personal health decisions regarding PFAS exposure. If you have concerns about PFAS in your drinking water, consult your local water utility or health department for current guidance. This study was conducted in controlled laboratory conditions and has not been tested in real-world environmental settings. Always consult with environmental health professionals or your healthcare provider regarding PFAS exposure concerns.