Japanese university finds river bacteria that remove 'forever chemicals'

A research team from Kobe University in Japan has discovered that certain strains of bacteria in river sediments can effectively remove harmful forever chemicals, according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of Water Process Engineering. Forever chemicals, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are incredibly difficult to break down due to their strong carbon-fluorine bonds.

These chemicals have gained notoriety in recent years as a global environmental and health concern, often accumulating in water, soil, and wildlife. PFAS are commonly found near military sites, industrial areas, and in various consumer products such as fabrics and firefighting foam. Japan currently bans the manufacture and import of several types of PFAS, including PFOS and PFOA.

The research team collected sediment samples from the Samondo River in Osaka Prefecture and identified bacterial strains capable of reducing the concentration of PFOS and PFOA. Associate Professor Hideyuki Inui from Kobe University noted that using bacteria collected from the natural environment could lead to more cost-effective decontamination methods.

The study confirmed that one of the identified strains significantly reduced PFAS levels in leachate from an industrial waste landfill, demonstrating the bacteria's potential beyond laboratory settings. The researchers found that adsorption of PFAS onto bacterial cells plays a crucial role in the removal process. While previous reports have suggested that certain microbial strains can degrade PFAS, the specific types of bacteria and the interplay between degradation and adsorption in removing these substances remain largely unknown.