Gut Bacteria and PFAS: A Promising Discovery with Human Potential, By Mrs. (Dr) Abigail Knight (Florida)
A groundbreaking study published on July 1, 2025, in Nature Microbiology has revealed that certain human gut bacteria can absorb and excrete toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals," in laboratory mice. This discovery, detailed in sources like NaturalNews.com and LiveScience.com, offers hope for mitigating the health risks posed by PFAS, which are pervasive in the environment and linked to serious health issues. Below, I discuss the study's findings, evaluate their potential relevance to humans, and critically assess the implications and limitations for future applications.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge's MRC Toxicology Unit identified nine species of human gut bacteria, including six from the Bacteroides family, capable of absorbing PFAS such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). When introduced into the guts of lab mice, these bacteria absorbed 23–74% of PFAS, depending on the chemical, within minutes. The PFAS molecules formed dense clumps inside the bacteria, which appeared to shield the microbes from harm while allowing the toxins to be safely excreted in faeces. Lead author Kiran Patil noted the bacteria's "remarkably high capacity" to sequester PFAS, while co-author Indra Roux highlighted the potential for developing microbiome-based therapies to remove PFAS from the human body, where they cause the most harm.
The study complements earlier research, such as a June 2025 PNAS study, which found that gut microbial enzymes can break down PFAS's strong carbon-fluorine bonds. Together, these findings suggest the gut microbiome may both sequester and degrade these persistent chemicals, offering multiple mechanisms to combat their toxicity.
PFAS are synthetic compounds valued for their resistance to water, oil, and heat, making them ubiquitous in products like non-stick cookware, waterproof fabrics, firefighting foams, and cosmetics. However, their durability, earning them the nickname "forever chemicals," means they persist in the environment for thousands of years and accumulate in human tissues. Federal studies indicate PFAS are present in the blood of 99% of people, with long-chain variants like PFOA lingering for years. Exposure is linked to increased risks of cancer, immune system disruption, liver damage, and developmental issues. This discovery, published in Nature Microbiology on July 1, 2025, suggests that gut bacteria may offer a novel way to reduce PFAS levels in the body, addressing a critical public health challenge.
The study's findings are highly relevant to humans for several reasons:
Widespread Exposure: PFAS are nearly ubiquitous, contaminating water, soil, food, and human bloodstreams globally. A natural, microbiome-based solution could provide a non-invasive way to reduce PFAS accumulation, particularly for long-chain PFAS that persist in the body.
Efficiency: The bacteria's ability to absorb 25–74% of PFAS in mice, even at real-world exposure levels, suggests a robust mechanism that could translate to humans. The rapid sequestration (within minutes) and safe excretion via faeces indicate a practical pathway for detoxification.
Therapeutic Potential: Researchers, including Patil and co-author Anna Lindell, are already working through their startup, Cambiotics, to develop probiotic supplements that boost these detoxifying bacteria. This could lead to accessible interventions, complementing existing strategies like avoiding PFAS-containing products or using water filters.
Complementary Mechanisms: The possibility that gut bacteria not only sequester but also degrade PFAS (as suggested by the PNAS study) enhances the microbiome's potential as a multifaceted defence against PFAS toxicity.
Despite the promise, several factors limit immediate applicability to humans:
Mouse Model: The study was conducted in mice with "humanised" microbiomes, not humans. Human gut microbiomes are more complex and variable, influenced by diet, lifestyle, and genetics. It's unclear how these bacteria will perform in diverse human populations. Food scientist Bryan Quoc Le noted that the bacteria's survival and efficacy in varied microbiomes remain unknown.
Single-D Thorpe: The experiments used a one-time PFAS dose, while human exposure is chronic and at lower levels. Chronic exposure could affect bacterial performance or lead to different outcomes, requiring further study.
Mechanism Uncertainty: The exact mechanism by which bacteria absorb PFAS is not fully understood, which complicates efforts to optimise or bioengineer these microbes for human use.
Regulatory and Practical Hurdles: Developing probiotics for PFAS removal will require extensive clinical trials to ensure safety and efficacy. The UK's April 2025 parliamentary inquiry into PFAS risks underscores the need for rigorous regulation, which could delay real-world applications.
The discovery aligns with growing concerns about PFAS, which have been linked to serious health risks and are being phased out in some industries, like food packaging. However, their environmental persistence means exposure will continue, making detoxification strategies urgent. The study's focus on natural gut bacteria offers a less invasive alternative to other proposed solutions, like chemical treatments or filtration systems, which are costly or impractical for widespread use.
While awaiting probiotic therapies, individuals can reduce PFAS exposure by:
Using reverse osmosis or carbon-block water filters.
Avoiding non-stick cookware, especially if scratched.
Steering clear of fast food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, and stain-resistant fabrics.
Opting for glass or stainless steel containers.
The research team's startup, Cambiotics, aims to develop probiotics to enhance PFAS-absorbing bacteria, but human trials and regulatory approval will take years. Meanwhile, complementary findings on gut enzymes breaking down PFAS suggest a dual approach, sequestration and degradation, that could amplify the microbiome's protective role.
The discovery that gut bacteria can absorb and excrete up to 74% of PFAS in mice is a significant breakthrough with clear relevance to humans, given the universal presence of these chemicals and their health risks. While the findings are not yet directly applicable due to the mouse model, chronic exposure differences, and mechanistic uncertainties, they pave the way for microbiome-based therapies like probiotics, which could offer a natural, scalable solution. For now, lifestyle changes to minimise PFAS exposure remain critical, but this research underscores the gut microbiome's potential as a powerful ally in combating "forever chemicals." As science progresses, nurturing a healthy gut through probiotics and organic, clean diets, rich in foods like oats and mushrooms that may enhance PFAS elimination, could become a cornerstone of public health strategies.
For further reading, the original study by Lindell et al. in Nature Microbiology (DOI: 10.1038/s41564-025-02032-5):
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-025-02032-5
https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-07-07-need-good-gut-bacteria-remove-forever-chemicals.html
"A groundbreaking new study has found that specific human gut bacteria can absorb and help excrete toxic "forever chemicals," scientifically known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), at least in laboratory mice. This discovery, published in Nature Microbiology on July 1, could open the door to novel strategies for reducing PFAS accumulation in the human body — a pressing concern given the chemicals' widespread use and persistence in the environment.
Gut bacteria may help fight PFAS exposure: A new study in Nature Microbiology found that nine species of human gut bacteria can absorb and store toxic "forever chemicals" like PFAS in lab mice, reducing the chemicals' presence in the body.
Bacteria safely sequester PFAS: The PFAS accumulated inside the bacteria in dense clumps, which appeared to shield the bacteria from harm while allowing the chemicals to be excreted in feces.
Potential for future treatments: While the research is in early stages, it suggests the possibility of developing bacterial therapies to help humans eliminate PFAS, which are otherwise nearly indestructible and widely present in the environment.
Sequestration and breakdown may work together: Experts note this study complements recent research showing that gut enzymes might also break down PFAS, suggesting our microbiome may have multiple mechanisms to combat these persistent toxins.
Gut bacteria show promise in absorbing and removing toxic 'forever chemicals'
PFAS are a large group of man-made chemicals known for their resistance to water, oil, and heat. These properties have made them useful in countless everyday items — from non-stick cookware and water-repellent fabrics to firefighting foams and cosmetics. However, this same resilience means PFAS do not break down easily in the environment or the human body. Nicknamed "forever chemicals," some forms of PFAS can linger for thousands of years and are now found in soil, water, food supplies, and human bloodstreams worldwide.
Exposure to PFAS has been linked to various health risks, including increased cancer risk, immune system disruption, and developmental problems. Since these chemicals are already widespread, researchers are urgently seeking ways to mitigate their harmful effects. The new study offers a potentially valuable solution: leveraging the natural abilities of our gut microbiome.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge's MRC Toxicology Unit identified nine human gut bacterial species that could absorb PFAS. These bacteria were introduced to lab mice, which were then exposed to common PFAS chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). The results were promising — the bacteria absorbed between 23% and 74% of the chemicals, depending on the type.
Interestingly, the PFAS molecules clustered into dense clumps inside the bacteria, seemingly neutralizing their toxicity. This aggregation appeared to protect the bacteria's cellular functions, allowing them to remain healthy despite absorbing large quantities of the pollutants. According to lead author Kiran Patil, the bacteria demonstrated "a remarkably high capacity" to sequester PFAS from their surroundings and safely store them internally.
Study co-author Indra Roux emphasized the importance of these findings, noting that although we still lack a method to destroy PFAS outright, this study suggests that gut bacteria might offer a way to remove them from the human body — particularly where they can do the most damage.
Importantly, the researchers cautioned that their study used a one-time dose of PFAS in mice, while human exposure is usually chronic and at lower levels. However, the research aligns with other recent findings, including a June study in PNAS showing that human gut microbial enzymes may also be capable of breaking down PFAS' notoriously strong carbon–fluorine bonds. Together, these studies suggest the gut microbiome may not only store but potentially degrade these persistent toxins.
While more research is needed, this discovery marks a hopeful step toward reducing the long-term health burden of PFAS exposure through microbiome-based interventions. Remember to take lots of probiotics and enzymes daily (supplements too) for good gut flora.
https://www.livescience.com/health/our-gut-bacteria-can-absorb-and-remove-toxic-forever-chemicals-at-least-in-lab-mice
"Researchers have identified gut bacteria that can absorb toxic "forever chemicals" in lab mice, according to a new study, potentially offering up a way to control PFAS levels in humans.
PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals used in a variety of products, from non-stick cooking pans to cosmetics. These substances are often nicknamed "forever chemicals" because they have strong chemical bonds that don't easily break down in nature and, in some cases, stick around for thousands of years. As a result, these chemicals pose a major pollution concern, both in our environment and in our own bodies.
Our drinking water and agricultural systems are already contaminated with PFAS to some degree, and as some of these chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and into our blood, there's no keeping them out of our bodies. Scientists are still untangling the health implications of PFAS, but exposure has been linked to various potential harms, including an increased risk of some cancers and disruptions to our immune system.
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However, our bodies may also have a way of protecting themselves from these chemicals. The new study, published Tuesday (July 1) in the journal Nature Microbiology, investigated how human gut bacteria interacted with PFAS and found that nine species could effectively fend off the chemicals, at least in lab mice. The bacteria absorbed a good chunk of common PFAS that the mice were exposed to, which was then excreted in the mice's feces.
While there's a lot more work to be done, these findings suggest that we may be able to employ some bacterial species to control forever chemicals.
"The reality is that PFAS are already in the environment and in our bodies, and we need to try and mitigate their impact on our health now," study co-author Indra Roux, a researcher in the Medical Research Council (MRC) Toxicology Unit at the University of Cambridge, said in a statement. "We haven't found a way to destroy PFAS, but our findings open the possibility of developing ways to get them out of our bodies where they do the most harm."
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PFAS resist water, oil and heat, making them useful in many different products. Today, there are thousands of different chemicals under the PFAS umbrella. While they are being phased out of some industries, like food packaging, many already exist in the environment and aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
To explore how gut bacteria interact with PFAS, the researchers first identified nine bacterial species that could absorb these chemicals and then gave those species to lab mice. The mice were then exposed to PFAS, including the common perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). The bacteria absorbed between 25% and 74% of PFNA and 23% to 58% of PFOA, according to the study.
Accumulated PFAS didn't seem to affect the bacteria much. The PFAS aggregated (grouped together) in dense clusters within the bacteria, which appeared to minimize their impact on vital cell processes, according to the study.
"We found that certain species of human gut bacteria have a remarkably high capacity to soak up PFAS from their environment at a range of concentrations, and store these in clumps inside their cells," senior study author Kiran Patil, an investigator within the University of Cambridge's MRC Toxicology Unit, said in the statement. "Due to aggregation of PFAS in these clumps, the bacteria themselves seem protected from the toxic effects."
The researchers noted in the study that their experiments involved giving mice a one-time dosage of PFAS, while humans — and other animals — typically experience low but chronic exposure to the chemicals.
Lawrence Wackett, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities who wasn't involved in the study, told Live Science in an email that the research was "particularly interesting" in light of another study published June 13 in the journal PNAS, which found that human gut microbial enzymes can break down carbon–fluorine bonds — the strong bonds present in PFAS.
"Taken together, there might be both sequestration and degradation of certain fluorinated compounds in the human gut," Wackett said.
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