Researchers at MSU have discovered that neurons in a locust’s brain can distinguish among multiple PFAS compounds, including PFOS, one of the world’s most common “forever chemicals,” at environmentally relevant concentrations.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are used in products ranging from nonstick cookware and waterproof fabrics to firefighting foams. Because they break down very slowly, they persist in water, soil and living organisms, making contamination difficult to monitor and clean up.
“PFAS are extremely difficult to detect,” said Debajit Saha, associate professor in Michigan State University’s College of Engineering and Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering. “There is a tremendous need for technologies that can identify them at very low concentrations.”
The researchers found that each PFAS compound produced a distinct pattern of neural activity — an “odor fingerprint” that allowed the insects to distinguish between different chemicals. The team also demonstrated that locusts could detect PFOS at concentrations similar to those found in contaminated environmental samples.