“Ravenous mealworms so robust that they can digest plastic may be the solution to a worldwide pollution problem that is threatening wildlife on land and sea, Stanford University researchers revealed Thursday.”
“Their study, published this month in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, found that yellow mealworms not only break down plastic, but also poop out chemicals — like flame retardant — added to plastic and none of it bioaccumulates up the food chain.”
“It means that the tiny larval creatures, which are easy to cultivate and commonly used as feed for farm animals and pets, could potentially be deployed en masse to help rid the world of plastic garbage without harming the chickens, fish, snakes, shrimp and even humans that eat them.”
View the whole story here: https://www.sfchronicle.com/science/article/Plastic-munching-mealworms-may-be-key-to-helping-14920075.php