Scientists Use Fungi to Break Down BPA

Indian scientists Mukesh Doble and Trishul Artham have determined that plastics containing Bisphenol A (BPA) are able to decompose faster that untreated plastics, which may provide a solution for how to dispose of these products, according to ScienceDaily.

The experiment involved adding three different kinds of fungi to both types of plastic and evaluating the growth after one year. The scientists claim that BPA helped improve fungal growth because it was an additional source of energy. Additional fungi allow the plastic to break down quicker.

The verdict is still out on the actual health effects of BPA, but new disposal options are crucial for reducing the environmental impact of these hard-to-recycle plastics. Photo: Flickr/cocolima

This process also allows for the polycarbonate to be decomposed without the chemical being released into the environment.

BPA is a plastic additive used in the production of polycarbonate plastics. It helps provide durability and flexibility to plastics and is incorporated into products like food packaging and car bumpers.

Many of the products that use BPA are not recyclable with other plastics in curbside programs, and ScienceDaily estimates that 2.7 million tons of plastics containing BPA are produced each year. Finding a way to decompose this plastic would provide an alternative to recycling.

Last year, a similar process was discovered that used bacteria from mealworm beetles to help break down expanded polystyrene. This is another difficult-to-recycle plastic that is used in high demand for consumer products due to its light weight and ability to insulate.