Not long ago we talked about the use of plastic and ways of manufacturing with alternative sources to oil, but this is still a small-scale method that cannot eliminate the problem of plastic in the environment and the waste that has already been discarded.
In 2020 alone, global plastic production reached 367 million tons and is currently approaching 400 million tons per year. A large part of this plastic waste is from single-use packaging, it is estimated that 40% of all plastics produced are only used for a few minutes and are already discarded as straws, bags and bottles.
There is so much plastic produced that much of what is generated ends up in the environment inappropriately, whether in landfills, irregular disposal and even in landfills. According to data from the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), only 9% of plastic produced in the world is recycled and in Brazil the numbers are even lower.
The UN estimates that by 2050 we will have more plastic in the sea than fish and marine animals. The chaos is so great that plastic particles have already been found in the most unpredictable places in the world, such as at the top of Mount Everest, at the bottom of the Mariana Trench (the deepest place in the oceans) and even in the placenta and breast milk.
Plastic is a major threat to wildlife, marine and terrestrial, animals and plants suffer from this harm. According to UNESCO studies, every year more than 1 million seabirds and more than 100,000 marine mammals die directly from incorrect plastic disposal.
The search for a solution to this problem seems to be inglorious, due to the high volume of waste produced and discarded. There is even the so-called seventh continent, in the Pacific Ocean, a pile of plastic from various parts of the world, carried by sea currents and twice the size of France.
However, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, in 2016 a team of Japanese scientists identified a species of marine bacteria ( Ideonella sakaiensis ) capable of digesting PET bottles. The bacteria, discovered in plastic bottles, water and mud, is capable of breaking down molecules and digesting plastic using two enzymes, petase and metase. The strain uses carbon as an energy source and some species are able to break down plastic and use the long carbon chains as their main source of nutrients.
There is also a report of scientists who discovered two species of bacteria from the genera Deinococcus and Hymenobacter capable of feeding on substances released when plastic bags break down in Scandinavia. Unlike the Japanese discovery, the species identified in fresh water do not break down plastic, but take advantage of the natural process of breakdown and degradation of plastic bags to consume the released substances, many of these substances are dangerous and toxic to the human body when in constant exposure. .
The results of the studies demonstrated that the bacteria studied are capable of consuming both plastic as a source of energy and taking advantage of compounds from the degradation of plastic waste, but still on very small scales. Published studies also demonstrate that the high concentration of plastics in the environment can be a limiting factor for the growth of bacterial colonies and the speed of pollutant degradation.
Despite promising results, the discoveries still require a lot of investment and research to develop technologies that can use the biodegradation of plastic by bacteria as a viable alternative to combat pollution.
Plastic waste management is not just about recycling or biodegradation, the use of plastic must be considered before it even enters the production process. Whenever possible, reduce plastic consumption, even if it is disposed of correctly, it will hardly be recycled. A collective effort is needed in the mentality regarding the consumption of plastic derivatives, their disposal and use and this involves consumers, the general population, companies, governments and research and teaching entities.
References:
Bacteria that eats plastic helps with recycling – eCycle
https://www.uol.com.br/ecoa/ultimas-noticias/2023/04/14/bacterias-que-comem-plastico-podem-resolver-o-problema-do -lixo-no-planeta.htm?cmpid=copiaecola
Study shows that global plastic production will increase by 50% by 2025 | SEE (abril.com.br)
The bacteria that “eats” PET bottles: Revista Pesquisa Fapesp
There are bacteria that feed on substances released by plastic | Pollution | PUBLIC (publico.pt)
Can bacteria that eat plastic solve the planet’s trash problem? – 04/14/2023 – UOL ECOA
