New research shows some microbes can absorb “forever chemicals” from your body.
See how science may turn your microbiome into a detox machine.
In a promising breakthrough, scientists have discovered that certain human gut bacteria can absorb and store toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
These persistent pollutants are found in countless everyday products and have been linked to health risks such as kidney damage. The new study, published in Nature Microbiology, identified 38 bacterial strains capable of locking away PFAS, with some species—like Bacteroides uninform is—showing a particularly strong ability to absorb the toxins. When tested in mice, these bacteria helped flush PFAS from the body via feces.
The findings could pave the way for future probiotic supplements designed to reduce PFAS levels in the human body. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and other institutions say these gut microbes not only tolerate the chemicals but cluster them in protective clumps, shielding themselves and potentially reducing harm to their human hosts. While this doesn’t destroy the chemicals, it offers a potential method to safely remove them from the body—a vital step as these pollutants continue to accumulate in our environment and bodies with little regulation or removal strategies currently in place.