Superfund Research Program

October 2024

Paper of the Month

Researchers at the University of California-Los Angeles identified a type of bacteria, called Acetobacterium, that can destroy specific PFAS. These microorganisms are found in wastewater environments and can potentially be used as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to remediate sites contaminated with PFAS.

The research team, funded by an SRP individual research project, exposed various types of bacteria to a specific PFAS called PFmeUPA to see whether they could break down the chemical through a process called defluorination. After they found that some Acetobacterium species could indeed break down PFAS, the scientists conducted further tests to uncover the mechanisms behind defluorination.

Their findings can help bioengineers design sophisticated strategies to better target other PFAS compounds, according to the authors. The team is now exploring more novel defluorinating bacteria based on the genetic markers identified from this study.

To learn more, see this Extramural Paper of the Month.