Sea sponges tested to filter pollutants in Spanish port waters

Researchers transplanted chicken liver sponges into a polluted Spanish harbor to test whether the organisms could survive and filter contaminants, with early signs suggesting the approach may offer a low-tech solution for port remediation.

First covered Sep 1, 2026 · 1:00 AM PT · 1 article · no longer in the live window

Sea sponges tested to filter pollutants in Spanish port waters — Image via theguardian.com

Coverage

25d Guardian Environment Could this humble sea sponge clean up the world’s ports? — The chicken liver sponge has sailed through a test of its ability to filter pollutants in a harbour in Spain’s Costa Brava In the polluted waters of Marina…

More coverage from around the web

phys.org Chicken kidney sponge could be 'outstanding' at cleaning up polluted ports

eurekalert.org Chicken kidney sponge could be ‘outstanding’ at cleaning up polluted ports | EurekAlert!

frontiersin.org Chicken kidney sponge could be ‘outstanding’ at cleaning up polluted ports

popsci.com Blobby chicken kidney sponges clean dirty water surprisingly well | Popular Science

envirolink.org Humble Sea Sponge Could Help Clean Up Polluted Ports, Spanish Study Finds - EnviroLink Network

Appeared in: 2026-09-02 (#15)

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