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Are there stone-eating bacteria?

Yes, there are several species of stone-eating bacteria, as well as some species of stone-eating fungi. These microbes are called "stone-eating" because they break down marble, causing damage to monuments, tombs, buildings, and sculptures. The presence of stone-eating microbes was first observed by French scientist Henri Pochon at Angkor Wat, Cambodia, during the 1950s.

The most destructive species of stone-eating bacteria is Thiobacillus thioparus. This microbe metabolizes (transforms) sulfur dioxide gas, a component of air pollution, into sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid eats away at calcium carbonate (marble), turning it into calcium sulfate (plaster). Thiobacillus thioparus consumes carbon dioxide, which is a by-product of metabolic process.

Other species of stone-eating bacteria are found within the genera (plural form of genus) Nitrobacter and...

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