I thought, if I can understand nature's chemistry, then I'd be able to help protect it. So that's why I'm here, in Spain. I'm working with enzymes to protect the leaves, flowers, stems and trees... and us!
The enzymes that I work with are designed to break down PFAS. PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used to help make things fire-proof, water-proof and grease-proof. In other words, they're pretty useful. Unfortunately, they are so strong that they don't break down at all. Some people have even nicknamed them forever chemicals.
What makes PFAS so special is the carbon-fluorine bond. This bond is the strongest chemical bond found in nature. Think of sticking two magnets together that are so strong you can't break them apart. PFAS are made up of a bunch of these magnets. They're so strong that nothing in nature can break them apart. Not even natural enzymes.
And ohhhh no! Because PFAS are used in everything (non-stick pans, firefighting foam, even microwave popcorn) they’re also in us! Scientists have found that 99% of Americans have PFAS in their blood. And while this isn’t anything to panic about, this is something that we want to stop. We’re not sure how PFAS could affect our health, so we want to remove them to be safe.
Enter: my special PFAS removing enzymes. Like I said, enzymes are nature’s construction workers. In my lab in Spain, we’re designing enzymes that can break down this pesky pollutant. Because, like I said, a PFAS degrading enzyme doesn’t exist yet. So, we’re using the magic of chemistry to build one. With this research, we will be able to help people all over the world drink cleaner water. Water without PFAS in it.
