Gut Microbes Could Protect Us from Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’

Working at the University of Cambridge in the UK, these scientists found that certain human gut microbes can absorb harmful PFAS, the persistent ‘forever chemicals’ found in everyday products like non-stick pans and waterproof clothing. In experiments with mice given a ‘humanized’ microbiome, the microbes rapidly took up PFAS from the gut and helped excrete them in feces, absorbing between 25 percent and 74 percent of the chemicals within minutes.

Synthetic chemicals that resist breaking down in the environment and the human body, PFAS are associated with serious health problems including reduced fertility, developmental delays, and increased risks of cancer and heart disease. Despite widespread exposure through water, food, and consumer goods, there are few solutions for removing these substances from the body. The Cambridge team’s study, published in the Nature Microbiology journal, shows that specific bacterial species store PFAS in clumps inside their cells, protecting themselves while helping to remove the chemicals. This important finding could eventually open the door to innovative probiotic treatments.

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