Environment & Mycoremediation

·

Study

Oyster Mushrooms Break Down Polystyrene Microplastics

Oyster Mushrooms Break Down Polystyrene Microplastics

Oyster mushroom, Reishi, Wood ear

What they found

Oyster mushrooms degraded 16.17% of polystyrene microplastics after 50 days, the most of five edible species.

Oyster mushrooms degraded 16.17% of polystyrene microplastics after 50 days, the most of five edible species.

The number

16.17% after 50 days

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

Pleurotus ostreatus, Ganoderma lucidum, Auricularia auricula

Pleurotus ostreatus, Ganoderma lucidum, Auricularia auricula

Published in

Journal of Hazardous Materials

Journal of Hazardous Materials

Covered in Shroom Scan

Section

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

As it ran in Shroom Scan

Plastic-Eating Mushrooms

Plastic-Eating Mushrooms

Five edible mushrooms, including oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), and wood ear (Auricularia auricula), were tested for their ability to break down polystyrene microplastics. Oyster mushrooms showed the highest degradation rate at 16.17% after 50 days. Using advanced genetic analysis, scientists also identified new enzymes and metabolic pathways involved in plastic breakdown, opening the door to fungi-powered solutions for pollution cleanup.

Five edible mushrooms, including oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), and wood ear (Auricularia auricula), were tested for their ability to break down polystyrene microplastics. Oyster mushrooms showed the highest degradation rate at 16.17% after 50 days. Using advanced genetic analysis, scientists also identified new enzymes and metabolic pathways involved in plastic breakdown, opening the door to fungi-powered solutions for pollution cleanup.

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