Scientists discovered that certain bacteria living without oxygen can break down a group of toxic chemicals called ether PFAS (forever chemicals) that contaminate our environment. These chemicals are used in many products and don’t naturally break down, making them dangerous pollutants. The study found that different types of bacteria work together to transform these chemicals into less harmful versions. Some bacteria need a special vitamin-like substance to do this work, while others don’t. This research helps us understand how nature might eventually clean up these pollutants and could lead to better ways to remove them from contaminated water and soil.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether bacteria living in oxygen-free environments can break down and remove fluorine from ether PFAS, a type of forever chemical found in many products and in our environment
  • Who participated: Laboratory experiments using different types of bacteria and chemical mixtures designed to mimic conditions found in soil and groundwater
  • Key finding: Bacteria can successfully break down ether PFAS under oxygen-free conditions, with different bacterial groups handling different types of these chemicals. Some bacteria need vitamin B12-like substances to work, while others don’t.
  • What it means for you: This research suggests that natural bacteria in soil and groundwater may help clean up forever chemical pollution over time. However, this is early laboratory research, and we don’t yet know how quickly or completely this happens in real-world conditions.

The Research Details

Scientists conducted laboratory experiments to test whether bacteria could break down five different types of ether PFAS chemicals under anaerobic conditions (without oxygen). They used pure cultures of specific bacteria, mixed bacterial communities, and chemical systems that mimicked natural conditions. The researchers tracked what happened to the chemicals over time, identified which bacteria were responsible for the changes, and determined what tools or enzymes the bacteria used to break down these chemicals.

They tested two main categories of ether PFAS: those with chlorine atoms attached (which are easier to break down) and those with unsaturated carbon structures (which have double bonds). By blocking certain bacterial processes and using vitamin B12 and other chemical tools, they figured out which bacteria did which jobs in breaking down these chemicals.

Understanding how bacteria naturally break down forever chemicals is important because these chemicals don’t decompose on their own and accumulate in the environment. If we know which bacteria can do this work and how they do it, we might be able to use this knowledge to clean up contaminated sites more effectively. This research also helps predict what will happen to these chemicals in natural environments like groundwater and landfills.

This is original laboratory research published in a respected environmental science journal. The study used multiple approaches (pure cultures, mixed communities, and chemical systems) to confirm findings, which strengthens the results. However, the research was done in controlled laboratory conditions, which may not exactly match what happens in real soil or water. The specific sample sizes and some experimental details aren’t provided in the abstract, which limits our ability to fully evaluate the study’s strength.

What the Results Show

The research showed that bacteria can successfully break down ether PFAS chemicals under oxygen-free conditions through several different processes: removing chlorine atoms, breaking apart the ether bonds, and removing fluorine atoms. Chemicals with chlorine atoms or unsaturated structures were broken down more easily than fully fluorinated versions.

The study identified two main groups of bacteria with different roles. One group, which depends on cobalt-containing enzymes (special protein tools), was responsible for removing chlorine from chlorinated ether PFAS. The other group, which doesn’t need cobalt, primarily broke apart the ether bonds in non-chlorinated chemicals. This suggests that different bacterial teams specialize in different types of chemical transformations.

When scientists added vitamin B12 (which contains cobalt) to a chemical system without living bacteria, the chemicals still broke down, confirming that cobalt-dependent enzymes are the key tool for removing chlorine. The end products of these bacterial transformations were shorter-chain chemicals with less fluorine, which are generally less toxic than the original chemicals.

The research revealed that the type of chemical structure matters significantly. Chemicals with chlorine atoms were transformed more readily than those without. Unsaturated structures (those with double bonds) were also more susceptible to bacterial breakdown. The hydrolytic O-dealkylation process (breaking apart ether bonds) was particularly important for non-chlorinated chemicals, while reductive defluorination (removing fluorine) occurred in multiple pathways.

This study fills an important gap in our understanding of forever chemicals. While previous research has shown that some PFAS chemicals can be broken down by bacteria, this is among the first detailed studies of ether PFAS specifically. The findings align with what scientists know about how bacteria break down other halogenated (chlorine or fluorine-containing) chemicals, but provide new details about the specific bacterial groups and enzymes involved.

This research was conducted in controlled laboratory settings, which may not perfectly represent what happens in real soil, groundwater, or wastewater treatment systems. The study doesn’t tell us how fast these transformations happen in nature or whether they occur at meaningful rates in contaminated sites. The research also doesn’t address whether the shorter-chain products created are truly less toxic or whether they might persist in the environment. Additionally, the study focused on specific types of ether PFAS, so results may not apply to all forever chemicals.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, there is moderate evidence that natural bacterial processes may help break down ether PFAS in oxygen-free environments like deep groundwater or landfills. However, this is early-stage research, and we cannot yet recommend relying on natural bacterial breakdown as a primary cleanup strategy. Further research in real-world conditions is needed before practical applications can be developed.

Environmental scientists, water treatment professionals, and regulators dealing with PFAS contamination should pay attention to this research. People living near contaminated sites or with PFAS in their drinking water should be aware that natural cleanup processes may be occurring, but shouldn’t assume contamination will disappear on its own. This research is primarily of scientific interest rather than something that affects individual health decisions right now.

Laboratory transformations occurred over weeks to months, but the timeline for meaningful cleanup in real environmental conditions is unknown. It could take years or decades for natural bacterial processes to significantly reduce contamination in groundwater or soil.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If using an environmental monitoring app, track local PFAS contamination levels in drinking water or soil over time to observe whether natural degradation processes are occurring in your area
  • Use the app to identify whether your water source is affected by PFAS and stay informed about local remediation efforts. Consider supporting or participating in community water quality monitoring programs
  • Set up quarterly or annual reminders to check local water quality reports and PFAS testing results. Track any changes in contamination levels over years to see if natural or engineered cleanup efforts are working

This research describes laboratory findings about how bacteria may break down certain forever chemicals under specific conditions. It does not provide medical advice or guidance for treating PFAS exposure. If you are concerned about PFAS in your drinking water or environment, consult your local water utility, environmental health department, or a healthcare provider. Do not attempt home remediation based on this research. This study is preliminary and does not yet provide proven methods for cleaning up real-world PFAS contamination.