Tiny mealworms may solve the world of its massive plastic problem. Researchers have found that these small creatures can consume potentially toxic plastic additives without ill effects. Experts have found the worms can consume disposable foam products without accumulating toxins – allowing them to still be used as protein rich feedstock for other animals. The team observed the mealworms eat their way through a block of foam and excrete 90 percent of a flame retardant used in the plastic over 24 hours and and the rest within 48 hours. Scroll down for videos Tiny mealworms may solve the world of its massive plastic problem. Researchers have found that these small creatures can consume potentially toxic plastic additives without ill effects The recent study was conducted by a team at Stanford University, who built on previous work that could not conclude if the toxic plastic additives stayed in the worm’s body. Anja Malawi Brandon, a PhD candidate in civil and environmental engineering at Stanford, said: ‘This is definitely not what we expected to see.’ RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next A jet Greta Thunberg may approve of: Rolls-Royce unwraps its… Flaw in Twitter Android app lets researcher match 17 MILLION… Share this article Share… Read full this story
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