In a finding that would revolutionize the way people clean up their environment, scientists have found a bacteria in the arctic ocean that can break down and eat microplastics.
This groundbreaking discovery gives us a chance to fight against one of the most harmful threats in the world today the plastic pollution that has already penetrated every corner of our planet, starting with the bottom of the trench all the way to the Arctic ice.
The Microplastic Crisis: A crisis on a global level.
Human beings generate more than 400 million tons of plastic annually, and most of this is deposited in the ocean.
This plastic is ruined by sunlight, waves, and wind over time to produce small pieces known as microplastics - pieces under 5 millimeters in size which are virtually impossible to get rid of.
These microplastics pollute the marine life and get to the food chain and finally find their way to human bodies with health dangers that are yet to be comprehended.
So far the world could not find an efficient and more natural way of getting rid of them, but this Arctic find might be the best game-changer.
A Discovery Hidden in Ice
Scientists at Norwegian and German universities took samples of sea water and soil in the Arctic in search of adapted microorganisms to extreme cold.
Surprisingly enough, they found a number of strains of bacteria that were able to nourish on polyethylene - one of the most widespread plastics employed in packaging and consumer goods.
The Bacteria plastic eating behavior.
The bacteria discharge exclusive enzymes that dismantle intricate plastic polymers to smaller compounds.
After such molecular chains are cleaved, the bacteria feeds on them and transforms them to harmless products such as carbon dioxide and water.
Essentially, this microorganism converts plastic waste into energy - or biodegradation.
Importance of this discovery.
Microplastics are extremely tenacious - they do not break down naturally in hundreds of years.
These arctic bacteria are however able to achieve in weeks and months what nature alone would have taken centuries to achieve.
Cold-Loving Microbes -Unknown Helpers of Nature.
The Arctic bacteria survive at low temperatures which is not common in organisms degrading plastics.
Majority of the past records of plastic-eating microbes needed warm and controlled environments which would not be applicable in real world situations.
This is because these new strains are able to survive and act in icy water of the oceans and hence they are the best bets of natural bioremediation in the global seas and polar areas.
Possible Cleaning the Oceans Naturally.
In the future, controlled ocean areas may be offered genetically improved variations to speed up the clean up process and at the same time ensure the safety of the ecology.
Provided it succeeds, it would be the first planetary scale biological solution of plastic pollution.
A Step Towards Ocean Restoration.
Such a finding can be added to other greener innovations e.g. ocean-cleaning robots and packaging alternatives made of seaweed to create a worldwide web of cleanup systems that are mechanically and biologically efficient.
The enzymes of the bacteria could also be extracted, purified as well to recycle plastic waste in a more efficient manner.
Melted in Arctic Ice to the Global Impact.
Some people refer to the Arctic as the early warning system of the earth - a region where environmental change is the first to be noticed.
The fact that such an extreme part of the world has been able to produce such a solution is poetic - the ecosystem that is under threat due to pollution might be the key to saving the planet.
Challenges Ahead
Although the discovery itself is revolutionary, the scientists need to test the long-term impact of the bacteria and make sure that it does not interfere with the marine ecosystem.
There will be a need of controlled bioreactors and genetic safety barriers before global application.
Responsibility, Hope and Science.
This finding emphasizes the fact that nature will find a solution to repair what human beings destroy.
The Arctic bacteria demonstrate that the key to the pollution solution may be found even in the most unexpected locations.
Future Biodegradation Technology.
Now scientists are considering how to design these bacteria to be used in the industrial level like the waste water treatment plant or the plastic recycling plant.
In the immediate future, smart waste management systems might include plastic-eating bacteria, which guarantees a sustainable and circular economy.
Conclusion: Nature Mini Cleaners Can Clean the Oceans.
The discovery of the arctic bacteria is a ray of hope - it is evidence that even tiny life can produce the biggest impacts.
With proper management, these microorganisms may reverse the wave of plastic pollution and assist in returning the balance of the oceans of the world.
The most distant bacteria on the Earth, living in the frozen North, and in the tropical seas can be the guardians of our blue planet soon.