Mealworms Show Potential to Break Down Microplastics, But Limitations Persist

A UBC study reveals mealworms can digest microplastics, but scalability and safety concerns hinder their role in solving the plastic pollution crisis.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia found that mealworms consumed about 50% of microplastics from ground-up face masks mixed with wheat bran over 30 days.
The insects absorbed most of the microplastics they ingested, excreting only a small fraction, and showed no negative effects on survival or growth.
Scaling up this approach is impractical, as 100 mealworms would take approximately 138 days to consume a single disposable face mask.
Concerns were raised about the safety of using plastic-fed mealworms in agricultural food chains, as their edibility may be compromised.
Scientists aim to study the digestive mechanisms of mealworms to inspire new waste breakdown technologies, while emphasizing the need to reduce global plastic production.