Researchers Develop PFAS-Absorbing Filters Using Mushroom Mycelium

Mushroom-based filters are a new, cheap, and green solution to clean up PFAS by taking dangerous chemicals out of water

Monday, June 16, 2025 - A group of environmental scientists has created a new kind of filter out of mushroom mycelium, which is the root-like part of fungi. This filter has shown promise in getting rid of per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) from polluted water. These chemicals, which are often termed "forever chemicals," have been a hazard to public health for a long time since they don't break down naturally and are linked to cancer, reproductive disorders, liver problems, and immune system problems. The mushroom-based filters are better than regular filters that employ activated carbon or reverse osmosis since they are biodegradable, cheap, and can be made bigger for usage in a community or home. Both environmental groups and city water managers looking for sustainable alternatives are already interested in the new idea. As PFAS rules get stricter across the country, more people are looking for natural ways to clean up contaminated areas. This is especially true for towns that have to pay a lot of money to treat the pollution or deal with the legal problems that come with it. Legal professionals, such as PFAS in drinking water lawyer networks, are also keeping a close eye on this development. These filters could be a temporary solution for plaintiffs in PFAS in drinking water lawsuits, especially in rural or underserved areas that are waiting for full infrastructure upgrades.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) presented a summary of a study in 2025 that said the mycelium-based filters eliminated up to 80% of the targeted PFAS compounds during lab tests. These included PFOA and PFOS, which are two of the most common and dangerous chemicals in the class. The scientists were able to get these results by mixing dried and treated mycelium with charcoal to make a filter that could catch and hold PFAS molecules while water flowed through it. The report also talked about how cheap and easy it was to get the material, as well as how it was better for the environment than energy-intensive filtration equipment. More research is needed to make sure that the results work in large-scale or changing field circumstances, but they are a big step toward using bio-based remedies to tackle PFAS pollution. Many small towns and low-income communities can't afford traditional treatment methods like activated carbon and ion exchange systems since they are expensive to set up and need frequent maintenance. Experts think that adding mycelium-based filters to these regions could be a temporary fix until plans for more permanent infrastructure are made. Also, the fact that the material breaks down naturally tackles another environmental problem: how to securely get rid of PFAS-laden filter media without making the problem worse. Now, advocacy groups are asking federal and state governments to pay for pilot programs that test the filters in real-world drinking water systems, notably in schools, public housing, and farming communities that are known to be exposed to PFAS. Legal advocates say that these filters could also help lessen the damage in ongoing PFAS in drinking water litigation by giving affected residents temporary help. Experts say, nevertheless, that these biofilters are not a comprehensive answer.

More Recent Federal Government Water Contamination Lawsuit News:

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• Federal Housing Complexes Have Been Found To Have High Levels Of PFAS In Their Tap Water | 6/15/2025
• PFAS Found in U.S. Bottled Water Brands Even Though They Say They Are Clean | 6/15/2025
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• Accidents Involving Firefighting Foam During Drills Blamed For Contaminating Municipal Water Systems With PFAS | 5/20/2025
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• PFAS Foam Ban Directs Fire Departments Towards Incomplete and Expensive Transitions | 5/18/2025
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• PFAS Contamination Lawsuits Target Fire Foam Manufacturers Over False Safety Claims | 4/21/2025
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• A Local Dry Cleaning Company May Have Polluted the Camp Lejeune Water Treatment Facilities With PFAS Forever Chemicals | 4/19/2022
• Burn Pits Are Identified As A Source Of Military Installation Drinking Water Contamination | 4/18/2022
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• Cancer Clusters Indicate PFAS Forever Chemical Contamination | 4/14/2022
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• Lawsuits Seek Lump Sum Monetary Compensation For Cancer And Birth Defects From Drinking Contaminated Drinking Water | 4/11/2022
• Studies Conclude That Unborn Children Were Injured When Pregnant Mothers Drank Contaminated Tap Water | 4/8/2022
• 3M To Be Held Accountable For Selling Products That Contain Forever Chemicals Claiming They Were Safe | 4/4/2022
• Mothers That Drink Tap Water During Pregnancy Risk Having Children Born With Birth Defects | 3/30/2022
• Elsworth Air Force Base Is Attempting To Provide Free Clean Water To Local Residents Poisoned By PFAS Chemicals | 3/28/2022
• Military Veterans Are Protesting To Draw Attention To Toxic Burn Pits And The Carcinogenic Firefighting Foam Used To Extinguish The Fires | 3/25/2022
• The Closing Of Military Bases Exposed Toxic Burn Pits And Forever Chemicals in Firefighting Foam | 3/23/2022
• Politicians Agree Camp Lejeune Service Members And Their Families Deserve The Right To Sue The Federal Government | 3/22/2022
• Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Sickened Thousands Of Young Military Families With Terminal Illnesses | 3/21/2022
• Lawmakers Have More Evidence To Help Water Contamination Cancer Families Get Their Day In Court | 3/17/2022
• The Staggering Scope Of Firefighting Foam Water Contamination | 3/14/2022
• The EPA Allocates A Record Amount of Money To Fix Lead Drinking Water Pipes Servicing Low-Income Communities | 3/10/2022
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• Children Living Near Military Bases and Firefighting Stations Could Be At Risk Of Developing Cancer From The Drinking Water | 3/7/2022
• Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Survivors Could Get Their Day In Court | 3/6/2022
• Camp Lejeune Justice Act Is One Step Closer To Becoming A Reality | 3/5/2022
• County Governments Are Suing 3M For Failing To Warn Them of Forever Chemicals In Firefighting Foam | 3/4/2022
• Veterans Who Love Their Country Gathered In Kentucky To Insist The Government Do The Right Thing | 3/3/2022
• Ground-Water Contamination At Military Installation Caused Cancer In Thousands of Veterans | 3/2/2022
• Private Homeowners and Renters Are Largely Unaware Of the Toxic Chemical That Contaminate Their Everyday Drinking Wellwater | 3/1/2022
• Individuals and Families Should Test The Drinking Water For Carcinogenic Chemical Contamination | 2/28/2022

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