285
We are just getting started’: the plastic-eating bacteria that could change the world
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2023
285 points (97.3% liked)
Science
13267 readers
24 users here now
Subscribe to see new publications and popular science coverage of current research on your homepage
founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
If we can somewhat control it, good. Else, the last thing I want is the bacteria going at my PVC pipes and one day the ceiling under the toilet just burst out with a surprise.
Well that would be one way to encourage us to stop making things from plastic...
Not sure is plastic that is used for 100 years in pipes really a problem, problem is with single use recyclable plastic that is dumped to oceans.
Haha yeah, that was mostly a tongue in cheek comment from me.
I really don't think you have anything to worry about. The plastic these little guys eat needs to be partially degraded and broken up into smaller pieces for them to make any meaningful digestive progress. It's exceedingly unlikely the bacteria themselves are going to get efficient enough that your non-waste plastic stuff is in any danger. More likely, the enzymes themselves will be used as part of a larger controlled industrial process (enzyme recapture is important to staying cost effective after all). Even if that wasn't the case, these bacteria are suited for life in a landfill, not in your pipes.