Snails, a known shelled gastropod, that humans often perceive as the slow, slimy, and inconvenience seen in plantations. As disgusting as they are often described, who would've known that their offspring can be the key to lessen pollution in bodies of water caused by our colorful closets? 

Grade 10 researchers, Maria Cassandra E. Chanco from Ptolemy and Marleex R. Reyes from Pythagoras conducted a study in September 2023 that potentially solves two problems at the same time entitled: “Extraction of Golden Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata) Eggs as A Source of Dye for Clothes” as they learned how these variables are causing disadvantage to both farming and waters.

Colorful Disaster

Last year, a study written by academics from multiple universities found that up to 80% of dye-containing industrial wastewater created in low and middle-income countries are released untreated into waterways or used directly for irrigation.

“Growing up, I witnessed firsthand how problematic golden apple snail eggs are for farmers, particularly in my province. Since these snails and their eggs are a nuisance, why not use them as a solution?” Reyes stated. “Numerous dyes used in the textile industry have been shown to be mutagenic and carcinogenic, so we thought of using them as a source of dye instead,” she added.

Slow Adventure

Reyes and Chanco faced a lot of obstacles in achieving their goal of making their study a successful one. From conflict of schedules to finding materials for experimentation to almost giving up

"The laboratories took a long time to respond back and did not cater the services that we were looking for,” Chanco said. Good

thing that they didn’t give up as their study holds a lot of potential and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) agrees too.

Vibrant Opportunity

DOST-PTRI (Philippine Textile Research Institute) asked to collaborate with Chanco and Reyes in the study is what they got as a response. “We were asked to prepare a presentation of our Research study, and offered a Joint Research Undertaking (JRU) program,” Chanco said. “With the aid of this new pigment source, it will be possible to develop safer and healthier alternatives, reduce the cost of coloring, and possibly increase the range of colors available for wardrobe pieces,” Reyes stated.