Water Fleas: Nature's Solution to Wastewater Pollution

Scientists at the University of Birmingham have discovered that water fleas, specifically members of the genus Daphnia, can effectively filter out drugs, pesticides, and industrial chemicals from wastewater. These tiny crustaceans, which are eco-friendly, low-cost, and scalable, have shown promising results in removing pollutants such as diclofenac, atrazine, arsenic, and PFOS. The researchers selected water fleas from different time periods to find the most effective strains. The fleas were able to remove up to 90% of diclofenac and showed excellent potential for removing PFOS, a chemical that is difficult to eliminate using current methods. This discovery could revolutionize wastewater treatment and provide a sustainable solution for water pollution.