Scientists enlist waterfleas in fight to contain "forever" chemicals

Scientists and engineers have harnessed waterfleas to remove toxic chemical pollutants from wastewater, including near-indestructible "forever chemicals"

The researchers, led by the University of Birmingham, have devised a method in which waterfleas provide a “low-cost, low-carbon” way of removing pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals from wastewater. They claim the approach avoids the toxic byproducts typically associated with current clean-up technologies.

Their findings, published in the journal, Science of the Total Environment, demonstrate the removal efficiency of four strains of water flea on a pharmaceutical (diclofenac), a pesticide (atrazine), arsenic and PFOS one of the near-indestructible “forever” industrial chemicals.

The researchers select strains of waterflea based on their chemical tolerance which have developed in past environments. Senior author Professor Luisa Orsini, from the University of Birmingham explained: “The water flea's remarkable ability to remain dormant for centuries allows scientists to revive dormant populations that endured varying historical pollution pressures. Leveraging this trait, researchers sourced strains with diverse tolerances to chemical pollutants, incorporating them into the technology.”