Microbially mediated dechlorination of the PCB Aroclor 1254 in Taihu Lake sediment microcosms: Deciphering dechlorination pathways, characterizing microbial communities, and evaluating polylactic acid biostimulation.

Summary: Toxic chemicals called PCBs can stay in the environment for a long time and harm living things. Scientists found a natural way to clean up polluted mud from a lake using special bacteria. By feeding these bacteria a type of acid (like the kind found in biodegradable plastics), the bacteria "ate" the toxic parts of the chemicals. After a little over a year, almost all the toxic danger (99%) was gone! This shows a very promising, natural treatment for cleaning up polluted lakes.