Parengyodontium album

Parengyodontium album is a globally distributed fungal species known for breaking down plastics and items of historical importance. Early discoveries of the fungus were found in historical places across the globe, like monuments and museums, being attracted to mainly the materials of stone and paint, and showing its endurance over time in extreme locations. Discoveries in the early 21st century revealed its presence in marine ecosystems, colonizing and breaking down polyethylene, the most abundant plastic in oceans. Marine microbiologists from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and collaborators from various international institutions found P. album, along with other marine microbes, living in thin biofilms on plastics scattered throughout the ocean. The fungus and bacteria are found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is located in the Pacific Ocean, and it is a hub where plastic in the ocean accumulates by the masses. Though many types of bacteria have been shown to break down plastics, Parengyodontium album is one of only four species of marine fungi known to have this capability as of 2024.