Fog microbiomes remove air toxins

Researchers sampled radiation fog in Pennsylvania and found methylobacteria in fog droplets that were growing and using formaldehyde as food, converting it to carbon dioxide. Though under 1% of droplets contained bacteria, the aggregate biomass equals oceanic concentrations and measurably reduces a common pollutant linked to ozone smog and respiratory harm. — If airborne microbial communities routinely degrade pollutants, policymakers and regulators may need to account for biological aerosol processes in air‑quality models and mitigation strategies.