Plastic-eating fungus may solve garbage problem

Beijing: In a discovery that may spell good news for the environment, a novel fungus capable of degrading polyurethane (PU) plastics has been identified by Chinese researchers, a media report said on Saturday.

Aspergillus tubingensis fungus was isolated by a research team led by Xu Jianchu, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The fungus can grow on the surface of PU and break the chemical bonds between plastic molecules or polymers through activity of its enzymes.

"Meanwhile, the fungus also uses the physical strength of its mycelia to help break apart polymers," said Xu.

PU is a type of synthetic polymer widely used in the manufacture of plastic-related materials. It can be applied in various industries, including medical treatment, construction and automobiles.

Plastic waste is difficult to decompose, pollutes soil and water, and poses risks to human health.

"Fungus biodegradation is an important way to treat pollution caused by synthetic plastics," said Xu, adding that the efficiency of degradation was affected by various factors, including PH, temperature and the types of the medium used.

He said researchers would gradually figure out the ideal conditions for the rapid growth of the fungus, laying the foundations to solving the garbage problem.

The research was published on March 15 on the website of the international journal Environmental Pollution.