MycoMine’s Järfälla sports ground remediation study marks a significant endeavour across approximately 110,000 square metres of polluted soil. The site was contaminated by ash originating from the nearby Lövsta incineration plant’s activities six decades ago. The ash contamination, with a soil depth ranging from 0.5 to 5 metres, contains elevated levels of metals, presenting a huge challenge for restoration. High metal levels in soil impede plant development, risk leaching into systems such as groundwater over time, and can negatively impact human health if ingested – accumulating in the body over time. Through our innovative bioremediation method, MycoMine launched a preliminary study of the site between autumn 2023 and winter 2024.
Site Sampling
Currently Järfälla sports ground has limited use due to the high levels of contamination present in the soil. In the autumn, we conducted phase one of the project – collecting numerous soil and water samples from across the site. The primary objectives of this were to isolate any indigenous fungi which would be capable of metabolising these pollutants and investigate the extent of their capabilities. Through meticulous isolation and analysis, in collaboration with ALS Global’s testing facility, we were able to identify a range of potential fungal isolates and the rate of their metal extraction abilities. Ongoing testing is currently underway to refine our unique solution mixture to the specific site needs, however, there were significant decreases in several heavy metal concentrations in the soil and water samples. Notably mercury saw a 53% decrease in first treatment – subsequent treatments or prolonged treatment times can be carried out to optimise the metal removal. Copper, nickel, and zinc also saw decreases by 48%, 46%, and 44% respectively. Other metals seeing significant removals include cadmium and lead.
The Solution
MycoMine’s pioneering on-site fungal treatment systems offer a sustainable and efficient means of remediation. Traditional methods of removing the soil from the site would have heavily disrupted the soil integrity and mobilised the heavy metal pollution, as well as incurring significant financial and environmental costs. By harnessing the natural biological processes of fungi, we discovered our approach had the capability to facilitate the extraction and sequestration of metals from contaminated soils. MycoMine is currently developing a prototype closed-loop system for this type of soil bioremediation to allow the circulation of our fungal additive and water through the contaminated site. Successful development of such a system for a pilot project would enable the surface accumulation of fungal biomass enriched with the soil’s heavy metals which can then be removed and separated. The resulting fungal biomass makes an excellent compost ingredient, while the extracted metals can be responsibly disposed of or have some further recycled use. Through repeated application of the circulation system on contaminated soil, we aim to achieve progressive metal removal past our preliminary lab results on site. Our ambition is to achieve safe environmental levels of these pollutants, paving the way for the restoration of sites such as Järfälla to ecological equilibrium.
Challenges and Next Steps
While progress has been promising, the journey to restoration is not without its challenges. Differences in leaching rates between laboratory settings and field conditions still require further analysis – however, from our MycoCube pilot in Ytterby there was no negative disparity, with the on-site system functioning better than in lab. Field conditions naturally pose inherent obstacles demanding innovative solutions through the trialling of our prototype and pilot study. Moving forward, MycoMine remains committed to expanding its capabilities to tackle sites such as Järfälla affected by heavy metal pollution, and other contaminants. Through continued study and collaborations such as this, we endeavour to realise the full potential of fungi as a solution for environmental contamination – fostering sustainable and safe landscapes for generations to come.
