Argentina and Chile advance plastic research and enzyme discovery

Researchers in Argentina and Chile are conducting an international study titled “Plastic Waste in Remote and Mountainous Areas,” funded by the BRS Secretariat/UNEP. The project aims to assess plastic pollution in remote environments, distinguishing between macroplastics (larger than 5 mm) and micro/nanoplastics. Sampling has taken place in strategic locations including Cerro Catedral, Aconcagua Provincial Park, Los Glaciares National Park, and the Susques and Paso de Jama regions.

In a separate biotechnological development, a research group led by Sebastián Rodríguez in Chile has identified a bacterial enzyme, PETS26b, in the Atacama Desert capable of degrading polyethylene terephthalate (PET). While not yet a large-scale solution for plastic waste, the discovery of this enzyme—which likely evolved to degrade plant biomass but can also break down plastic—provides critical data for future environmental biotechnology and circular economy initiatives.