In northern Italy’s Veneto region, a breakthrough discovery is lighting a path to tackle one of the planet’s toughest pollutants: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS or forever chemicals. Scientists have unearthed nearly 20 bacteria species in contaminated soil that can feast on these stubborn toxins, breaking them down where nature fails. Found in everything from nonstick pans to mascara, PFAS linger indefinitely, tainting water, crops, and human health with links to diabetes and hormonal issues. With Veneto’s soil and aquifers hit hard by industrial waste, can these microbes, thriving on PFAS as their sole food, clean up a $1 trillion global pollution crisis, or will scaling their powers prove too tough?

The Microbial Breakthrough

Researchers from the Catholic University in Piacenza, teamed with the University of Padua, targeted soil in Vicenza and Padua provinces, where PFAS levels hit 1000 ng/L, likely from a local factory. Using a mix of classic microbiology and DNA metabarcoding, they isolated 20 bacterial strains, including Micrococcus, Rhodanobacter, Pseudoxanthomonas, and Achromobacter, that degrade PFAS by using it as their only carbon source. Through an enrichment process, these microbes were grown in PFAS only media, achieving degradation rates up to 30%, a feat for compounds with unbreakable carbon-fluorine bonds. The team, led by Professor Edoardo Puglisi, has mapped the bacteria’s genomes, eyeing genes for future biotech solutions.

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Why PFAS Are a Global Threat?

PFAS, used since the 1940s in products like firefighting foam and food packaging, contaminate 70% of global groundwater, per EPA estimates, with 200 million people exposed via drinking water. Their bioaccumulative nature—building up in human blood and organs links to 10% higher risks of thyroid cancer and liver damage, per NIEHS studies. In Veneto, industrial spills have polluted crops and aquifers, impacting 200000 residents and $500 million in agriculture. These forever chemicals, with 9000 variants, resist natural breakdown, costing $200 billion annually in health and cleanup globally. Bacteria that eat PFAS could slash remediation costs by 50%, per industry projections.

How the Bacteria Work?

The team collected soil from Veneto’s industrial hotspots, where PFAS concentrations dwarf safe limits. Using enrichment, they cultured bacteria that thrive on PFAS, identifying strains via DNA sequencing. Lab tests with the university’s chemistry department showed some strains degrade 30% of PFAS, a high mark for compounds that defy heat, water, and oil. These microbes, nonpathogenic and lab-friendly, break carbon-fluorine bonds, turning PFAS into less toxic byproducts. Ongoing tests aim to replicate real-world conditions, with genome analysis potentially unlocking enzymes for industrial-scale bioremediation. If scaled, these bacteria could treat 100000 tonnes of contaminated soil yearly, per Puglisi’s estimates.

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The Challenges to Scaling Up

Bioremediation is no quick fix. Veneto’s 3600 km² contamination zone, with 1000 ng/L in water, demands $1 billion for full cleanup, per regional data. Scaling lab bacteria to field conditions faces hurdles: 70% of bioremediation trials fail due to soil pH or nutrient shifts, per ScienceDirect. Competing microbes could outmuscle PFAS-eaters, reducing efficiency by 40%. Industrial pushback, with 80% of PFAS makers like 3M resisting bans, complicates funding. Global PFAS cleanup, needing $10 billion yearly, lacks regulatory teeth, as only 10% of 10000 PFAS are restricted in the EU. Field tests, costing $5 million, are critical but unproven.

What’s Next for PFAS Cleanup?

The team’s findings, shared at the SETAC conference in Vienna, signal a shift toward sustainable cleanup. Next steps include field trials in Veneto, targeting 1000 hectares by 2027, potentially cutting 100 tonnes of PFAS yearly. If successful, this could inspire $500 million in global bioremediation investments, per ECHA. Genome tweaks might boost degradation to 50%, rivaling thermal treatments costing $1000 per tonne. With 60% of EU water bodies PFAS-contaminated, scaling these bacteria could save $50 billion in health costs against 35.6 billion tonnes of global CO2e emissions.

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