Certain human gut bacteria appear capable of absorbing and excreting toxic PFAS chemicals, suggesting a new potential way to reduce internal exposure to these widespread pollutants.
Sharon Udasin reports for The Hill.
In short:
- Introducing the microbes into mice, researchers found that specific strains of human gut bacteria could absorb and store PFAS, which were then eliminated in feces.
- The bacteria sequestered PFOA and PFNA — two common PFAS types — at rates as high as 74%, though scientists haven’t yet determined how the uptake process works.
- The study’s authors have launched a startup, Cambiotics, to explore probiotic treatments that could reduce PFAS levels in the human body.
Key quote:
“We haven’t found a way to destroy PFAS, but our findings open the possibility of developing ways to get them out of our bodies where they do the most harm.”
— Indra Roux, researcher in the Toxicology Unit at the University of Cambridge Medical Research Council
Why this matters:
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have seeped into drinking water, food, and human tissue across the globe. These synthetic chemicals, often used in nonstick cookware and waterproof clothing, do not easily break down and instead persist in the environment and the body, earning them the name “forever chemicals.” Long-term exposure has been linked to cancer, liver damage, and reproductive and immune system problems. Regulatory efforts have lagged behind the pace of contamination, and there’s still no safe or effective way to remove PFAS from people already exposed. Understanding how our own gut bacteria might naturally process these pollutants could open a new front in the effort to limit their harm.
Read more: Scientists are using bacteria to remove harmful contaminants from our water. Here's how.
