Plastic-Eating Fungi Discovered in Amazon Forest Danger to ‘Modern Civilization’, Believe Experts

Environment 2

Cusco, Peru | A team of biologists from the University of Michigan deep in the Amazon forest at the border of Peru and Bolivia have discovered a new species of fungi that has the capacity to fully digest plastic and turn it into organic material.

The fungi that has been named Petroleumvorous Fungus, or the fungus that feeds off of petroleum, was found in the Amazon forest 400 km from the border of Peru and Bolivia in the natural reserve of Del Manu.

The team of scientists made the stunning discovery after parts of their radio equipment were destroyed by the fungus, which was also feeding upon the crews tents and synthetic clothing.

Team members had to be evacuated by helicopter in hazmat suits and all their equipment was destroyed to ensure the fungi would not spread to nearby cities

The team of researchers were escorted by the Peruvian army and are presently quarantined at a Peruvian military facility near Cusco.

Government officials are afraid the fungi could spread in nearby cities and attack major civilian infrastructures.

“Natives of the region have told us about this mushroom before but this is the first time we have proof of it” explained general Horacio Mendez of the Peruvian military.

“The whole zone will be quarantined until further notice and researchers will be released only after the 40-day period of quarantine” he told reporters.

The discovery of a plastic-digesting living organism such as this species of fungi is a serious threat to “human civilization as we know it”, according to Professor Eduardo Chiapates of the University of Mexico

“Plastic is at the base of modern civilization. 90% of what we use in everyday life is made of petroleum”

explains the professor.

“This fungi would cost the world billions of dollars in destruction if it spread to nearby cities. It would cause massive damage to infrastructures, factories would shut down, cars would be unusable and society as we know it would collapse”

warns the scientist.

“This simple fungi is a threat to human civilization as we know it”

he reiterated, visibly nervous.

The Petroleumvorous Fungus, already called by some the “Doomsday Mushroom”, could also be used in more constructive ways, such as eliminating domestic waste worldwide and even to attack the problem of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but experts warn the fungi would need to be “in a highly controlled environment” and scientists would need to find a “prowerful fungicide” to use it to such an extent without risks of it propagating and becoming “out of control”.