File this under hopeful and why we love science.
Scientists at The University of Manchester have spent the last 15 years researching and detailing the how a variety of natural organisms are able to lower the toxicity levels of certain known pollutants. This is just a step but it is an important one.
Professor David Leys explains the research: “We already know that some of the most toxic pollutants contain halogen atoms and that most biological systems simply don't know how to deal with these molecules. However, there are some organisms that can remove these halogen atoms using vitamin B12. Our research has identified that they use vitamin B12 in a very different way to how we currently understand it.”
He continues: “Detailing how this novel process of detoxification works means that we are now in a position to look at replicating it. We hope that ultimately new ways of combating some of the world’s biggest toxins can now be developed more quickly and efficiently.”
All of this research was possible because of an European Research Council (ERC) grant.