STANFORD, CALIFORNIA — Scientists say that plastic eating mealworms maybe even more useful than previously thought.<br /><br />Previous Stanford studies determined that mealworms' guts contain microbes that allow them to digest styrofoam."<br /><br />New research published in Environmental Science & Technology has found that mealworms can potentially consume toxic plastic additives in Styrofoam without any ill effects. These worms can then be used as a safe feed supplement.<br /><br />According to the university's news release, HBCD is a chemical added to styrofoam and other polymers as a flame retardant, but the substance is toxic.<br /><br />Mealworms in the experiment were able to excrete 90 percent of the HBCD they ingested 24 hours after eating the plastic and expel the remaining 10 percent within 48 hours.<br /><br />This means the mealworms are uncontaminated even if they substituted on styrofoam.<br /><br />Stanford University says that the results have significant implications, as the worms are used as feed for various livestock, including chickens.<br /><br />The experiment suggests worms used to consume plastic could still be used as a source of agricultural feed.
