Plastic pollution: Chinese scientists identify polythene-eating bacteria

Combination of three types of organisms found to cause ‘obvious damage’ to films of polythene, team from the Institute of Oceanology says

Independent expert says results are the best he has ever seen, but more research is needed

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Plastic pollution is a global problem. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 12:00pm, 2 May 2021Updated: 1:49pm, 19 May 2021

Chinese scientists say they have identified a blend of marine bacteria that appears capable of breaking down polythene, one of the most ubiquitous plastics on the planet and source of much of the pollution in the world’s oceans.

While the plastic-eating qualities of bacteria are already well known to the scientific community, the research by the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong province, is the first to establish a direct link to polythene (PE).

In the study, which was published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials on April 23, a team led by Sun Chaomin said they had discovered a combination of bacteria that was able to break down not only polyethylene terephthalate (PET) – from which bottles are made – but also polythene, which is used to make bags.

“Compared to the extensive studies into PET-degrading bacteria and enzymes, research into PE degradation lags well behind,” the researchers said.

Plastic pollution is said to be responsible for the deaths of about 1 million birds and 10,000 marine animals every year. Photo: Shutterstock

The team said they added bacteria to samples of polythene and polyethylene terephthalate, and after repeated tests it became clear that a particular combination of three types of bacteria was causing “obvious damage” to the polythene film, including making “numerous heavy cracks and deep holes”.

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