Old bones remain
ghost-hilo in sediment-
A seam of what will not fade.
Dispersed remains
Once tied in heat
Now he loosen in drift;
Through silt winds
They divide,
remodel,
Erode –
Names used in shells.
Somewhere in the dark
The little ones find them,
Leave them,
Press them more deeply –
a slow without consumption,
Thick air
with what
remains.
This poem is inspired by Recent research In bacteria that can eat chemicals forever.
Pear and polyfluoroalquilo (PFA) substances are a group of chemicals made by humans that are used in everything, from antiatrating kitchen utensils to fire foams. Its generalized use has led to serious water, soil and even human bodies, since these chemicals are not easily broken into the environment. Some PFA, such as sulfonic perfluoroooct acid (PFOS), are particularly worrying due to their persistence and possible health risks, including cancer links and the effects of the immune system. Conventional methods to eliminate PFA from contaminated areas are expensive and, often, ineffective, which makes it crucial to find alternative solutions that can safely decompose these chemicals.
This research explored if a particular type of bacteria, Labrys Portucalensis F11 could help degrade three different PFA compounds. The study found that this bacterium was able to break down the PFO and another PFAS, 5: 3 FTCA, significantly over time, producing smaller and less fluorked by -products. These findings suggest that bacteria could be used to clean the contamination by PFAS in the environment, offering a possible biological solution to a problem that until now has proven difficult to handle.
#Leavings
