Environment & Mycoremediation

·

Study

Indonesian Landfill Fungi Break Down Microplastics

Indonesian Landfill Fungi Break Down Microplastics

Smoky mold

What they found

Four landfill fungi reduced polyethylene microplastic weight by 20–30% in 30 days.

Four landfill fungi reduced polyethylene microplastic weight by 20–30% in 30 days.

The number

reduced plastic weight by 20–30%

How solid is it?

Lab dish

Lab dish

In vitro (lab dish)

In vitro (lab dish)

Evidence ladder: Lab dish → Animal → Early human → Strong human. Reviews summarize earlier research.

At a glance

Latin name

Aspergillus fumigatus

Aspergillus fumigatus

Published in

mail.sciencebiology.org

mail.sciencebiology.org

Covered in Shroom Scan

Section

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

As it ran in Shroom Scan

Plastic-Eating Fungi

Plastic-Eating Fungi

At a landfill site in Sumedang, Indonesia, scientists isolated four local fungi, including smoky mold (Aspergillus fumigatus), that successfully broke down polyethylene microplastics. In 30 days, the fungi reduced plastic weight by 20–30%. This natural degradation offers a promising, low-cost way to reduce plastic waste in developing regions.

At a landfill site in Sumedang, Indonesia, scientists isolated four local fungi, including smoky mold (Aspergillus fumigatus), that successfully broke down polyethylene microplastics. In 30 days, the fungi reduced plastic weight by 20–30%. This natural degradation offers a promising, low-cost way to reduce plastic waste in developing regions.

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