Fungus that degrades plastics!! Say no to plastics!! Bye bye plastics bags!! Use less plastics!! Plastics destroy our environment!! These are common slogan’s we come across daily. Yet, we are uncontrollable from using plastics as we couldn’t find perfect alternative for it. As the amount of plastic usage increases the waste deposited also increases. The plastic waste are hazard to environment. The land, water and air is polluted because of non-biodegradable polythene bags. A plastic bag can remain in the soil for hundreds of years. As the plastic is impermeable to water and air, the water cannot moves down to the soil. This also decreases the oxygen content of soil which affects the fertility of the land. Humans tried many methods such as burning, recycling, incineration etc., to dispose plastic waste. But they are costly and also results in toxic by-products which are hazardous to the living organism. Researchers have recently found new, safer and effective way for degrading the plastics wastes. The team of researchers from Islamabad, Pakistan has identified new plastic eating fungus. The fungus named as Aspergillus tubingensis which breaks down the plastic materials using its enzymes. From various rubbish, the researchers took the samples of soil and identified that this fungus grow on surface of plastics. Aspergillus tubingensis secretes enzymes which break’s the chemical bonds between the polymers. The researchers said that the fungus could perform on the soil but are affected by number of factors such as pH, temperature and the type of medium. In future, the team decided to determine the ideal growth conditions of the fungus and plastic degradation capacity. The team has also decided to use large scale fungus in plastics waste treatment plants. The scientists are looking forward that the fungus could solve ever growing plastic waste that destroys our mother earth. To be noted is that this for found to be a first discovery that could make safe disposal of plastics.

6. These are common slogan’s we come across daily.

7. Yet, we are uncontrollable from using plastics as we couldn’t find
perfect alternative for it.

8. As the amount of plastic usage increases the waste deposited also
increases.

9. The plastic waste are hazard to environment.

10. The land, water and air is polluted because of non-biodegradable polythene bags.

11. 10 yrs 50 yrs 100 yrs
A plastic bag can remain in the soil for hundreds of years.

12. As the plastic is impermeable to water and air, the water cannot moves
down to the soil.

13. Before Plastic Contamination After Plastic Contamination
This also decreases the oxygen content of soil which affects the fertility of
the land.

14. Humans tried many methods such as burning, recycling, incineration etc.,
to dispose plastic waste.

15. But they are costly and also results in toxic by-products which are hazardous to
the living organism.

16. Researchers have recently found new, safer and effective way for
degrading the plastics wastes.

17. Islamabad
The team of researchers from Islamabad, Pakistan has identified new plastic
eating fungus.

18. Aspergillus tubingensis
The fungus named as Aspergillus tubingensis which breaks down the
plastic materials using its enzymes.

19. From various rubbish, the researchers took the samples of soil and identified
that this fungus grow on surface of plastics.

20. Aspergillus tubingensis secretes enzymes which break’s the
chemical bonds between the polymers.

21. The researchers said that the fungus could perform on the soil but are affected by
number of factors such as pH, temperature and the type of medium.

22. %
In future, the team decided to determine the ideal growth conditions of the fungus
and plastic degradation capacity.

23. The team has also decided to use large scale fungus in plastics
waste treatment plants.

24. The scientists are looking forward that the fungus could solve ever
growing plastic waste that destroys our mother earth.

25. To be noted is that this for found
to be a first discovery that could
make safe disposal of plastics.

26. Share your feedback
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