Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have long been regarded as nearly
indestructible environmental pollutants. Their persistence in nature, coupled with
their widespread use in industrial and consumer products, has made them a
significant concern for environmental and human health. However, recent
scientific studies provide a promising outlook: biological degradation of PFAS is not
just possible, it is happening.
Microbial Degradation of PFAS
Recent research by Wijayahena et al. (2025) highlights the capability of Labrys
portucalensis F11 to degrade various PFAS, including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid
(PFOS), 6:2-fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS), and 5:3-fluorotelomer carboxylic
acid (5:3 FTCA). This bacterium successfully defluorinated PFOS, leading to the
formation of several metabolites, including PFHxA, PFPeA, and PFBA. Remarkably,
90% of PFOS and 58% of 5:3 FTCA were degraded within 100 days. This finding
indicates that specific microbial strains could be harnessed for targeted PFAS
bioremediation in contaminated environments.
Huang et al. (2024) further reinforced this concept by demonstrating the role of
Acidimicrobium sp. A6 in PFAS degradation. Their study found that A6 cultures
reduced PFAAs by 11.5-56.9% over 120 days, showcasing its defluorination abilities.
The research also revealed significant shifts in microbial communities, suggesting
that exposure to PFAS may create selective pressures that favor certain bacteria
with degradation potential.
Another compelling study by Yu et al. (2024) showed that Acetobacterium species
are capable of enzymatic reductive defluorination of α, β-unsaturated per- and
polyfluorocarboxylic acids. Their results point to a potential role for flavin-based
electron-bifurcating reductases in PFAS degradation, further expanding our
understanding of microbial mechanisms involved in breaking down these
persistent pollutants.
Enzymatic Approaches to PFAS Biodegradation
Beyond microbial degradation, enzymatic bioremediation strategies are also
showing promise. Ware et al. (2024) identified highly active plant peroxidases from
pumpkin and butternut squash skins that can degrade fluorinated phenolic
compounds. Unlike horseradish peroxidase (HRP), which exhibited reduced activity
with increasing fluorination, pumpkin skin peroxidase (PKS) maintained high
catalytic efficiency, making it a strong candidate for future bioremediation
applications.
Similarly, Farajollahi et al. (2024) discovered two dehalogenases, DeHa2 and DeHa4,
from Delftia acidovorans that are capable of defluorinating organofluorine
compounds. These enzymes, which remain stable under aerobic conditions and low
pH, offer new avenues for designing robust biodegradation strategies against
persistent PFAS.
A Call for Action: Investing in PFAS Bioremediation
The collective results from these studies demonstrate three critical points:
Several enzymes and bacteria possess the ability to degrade PFAS. Microbial
species like Labrys portucalensis, Acidimicrobium sp. A6, Acetobacterium spp.,
and Delftia acidovorans, as well as plant-derived enzymes like PKS and
dehalogenase enzymes, have shown measurable success in breaking down
these pollutants.
Bioremediation of PFAS is a real possibility. These findings debunk the long-
held notion that PFAS are completely non-degradable and show that
biological processes can contribute significantly to mitigating their
environmental impact.
ASPIDIA was right in calling for further research and industrial development
of PFAS bioremediation solutions. The results reinforce the urgent need for
investment in innovative scientific research to scale up these biological
degradation methods and implement them in real-world applications.
PFAS pollution is a challenge that demands urgent and effective solutions. The
scientific evidence is clear: bioremediation is not a distant dream but a tangible
reality. It is now up to policymakers, industry leaders, and research institutions to
accelerate the development and deployment of these biological solutions for a
cleaner, safer future.
References
Farajollahi S, Lombardo NV, Crenshaw MD, et al.
Defluorination of Organofluorine Compounds Using Dehalogenase Enzymes from Delftia acidovorans (D4B). ACS Omega. 2024;9(26):28546-28555. doi:10.1021/acsomega.4c02517
Huang S, Pilloni G, Key TA, Jaffé PR.
Defluorination of various perfluoro alkyl acids and selected PFOA and PFOS monomers by Acidimicrobium sp. Strain A6 enrichment cultures. J Hazard Mater. 2024;480:136426. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136426
Ware A, Hess S, Gligor D, et al.
Identification of Plant Peroxidases Catalyzing the Degradation of Fluorinated Aromatics Using a Peroxidase Library Approach. Eng Life Sci. 2024;24(11):e202400054. doi:10.1002/elsc.202400054
Wijayahena MK, Moreira IS, Castro PML, et al.
PFAS biodegradation by Labrys portucalensis F11: Evidence of chain shortening and identification of metabolites of PFOS, 6:2 FTS, and 5:3 FTCA. Sci Total Environ. 2025;959:178348. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178348
Yu Y, Xu F, Zhao W, et al.
Electron bifurcation and fluoride efflux systems implicated in defluorination of perfluorinated unsaturated carboxylic acids by Acetobacterium spp. Sci Adv. 2024;10(29):eado2957. doi:10.1126/sciadv.ado2957
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