Mushrooms Can Used to Fight Weight Pollution


Jakarta, the fungus can be an unexpected ally in efforts to combat dangerous pollution. Unexpected discovery of a study showing the fungus can turn lead into the most stable mineral forms.

The results of these studies indicate that the interaction between fungi and lead can occur in nature wherever they are found together. It also suggests the fungus may be used as a useful treatment strategy for lead-contaminated areas.

"Lead is usually regarded as a fairly stable substance. The idea that fungi and other microbes can attack and cause changes in the form of lead into the most stable minerals quite unexpected," said Geoffrey Gadd of the University of Dundee as reported MedicalNewsToday, Thursday (2/2/2012).

Lead is a structural and industrial materials is quite important. Popular use of lead in everything from firearms through to paint, lead contamination is a serious problem worldwide.

In soil contaminated with lead, has strived to reduce pollution through the addition of phosphorus sources. Phosphorus is an element that allows the incorporation of which leads to stable pyromorphite minerals. But the change has been regarded as a purely chemical and physical phenomena, not a biological phenomenon.

Pyromorphite is a type of mineral consisting of lead chlorophosphate. This type usually has a bright green color, yellow, or brown, and resinous fragrance.

In the new study, researchers carefully observe the interaction between fungi and lead. In a study of lead were incubated with and without fungus. In the lead were incubated with the fungus, began to show evidence of the formation of pyromorphite after 1 month. Minerals that contain lead and hold steady increase with time.

Minerals found in the lead which was incubated without fungi are less stable as a result of normal corrosion.

"It seems that the ability of fungi to produce organic acids or other substances may be very important to release the mineral form of lead-free, which can then be reacted with a source of phosphorus to form pyromorphite," said Gadd.

Although not all species of fungi capable of changing lead into the most stable minerals, but it appears that quite a lot of types of fungi are capable of performing the process. Not entirely clear why some fungi can carry out these processes. But it may help the survival of fungi in contaminated soils.

The results of these studies is another example of the function of fungi, and microbes in general. That fungi and microbes in general has benefits for the environment. Even the metal can be disrupted by colonization of microbes, "said Gadd.

The results of these studies have been published online in Current Biology, a Cell Press Publication.

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