Biofilm on microplastics in aqueous environment: Physicochemical properties and environmental implications

He, Siying; Jia, Meiying; Xiang, Yinping; Song, Biao; Xiong, Weiping; Cao, Jian; Peng, Haihao; Yang, Yang; Wang, Wenjun; Yang, Zhen; Zeng, Guangming

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127286

Cited by 159 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 152 publications

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“…In particular, when plastic debris is in contact with the aquatic environment, the hydrophobicity of plastic material begins to change due to the formation of dissolved organic matter layers on their surface, which is essential to the adherence and growth of microbial communities present in the water column (e.g., bacteria, single-celled algae, and fungi), forming the so-called plastisphere ( Arias-Andres et al, 2018 ; De Tender et al, 2017 ; Rummel et al, 2017 ). It is well known that this microcosm or plastisphere can influence the aging processes, vertical transport and migration of plastic debris, enrichment or dissemination of harmful microorganisms, and the sorption and release of contaminants by plastic debris ( He et al, 2022 ; Rummel et al, 2017 ). In the case of PPE (in particular, face masks) in aquatic ecosystems, they can be a potential refuge for pollutants and to facilitate enrichment and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) in the environment due to lateral gene transfer (LGT) between unilateral and/or multicellular microorganisms, causing antibiotic-sensitive microorganism to evolve resistance ( Zhou et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Degradation and Subproductsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degradation of plastics associated with the COVID-19 pandemic

Pizarro-Ortega

Dioses-Salinas

Severini

et al. 2022

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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Section: Degradation and Subproductsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degradation of plastics associated with the COVID-19 pandemic

Pizarro-Ortega

Dioses-Salinas

Severini

et al. 2022

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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“…Plastic litter (debris) in aquatic (coastline, marine and freshwater) environments was considered as a great emerging problem, mainly due to its visibility as flotsam, and the presence in an increasing amount of shores, beaches and the seabed [ 30 ]. Plastics have a long half-life and their biodegradation rate is very low due to their polymeric nature and the presence of various plasticizers [ 31 ]. The long persistency or durability of plastics in the environment led them to be the materials of choice for various manufacturers.…”

Section: Plastic Pollution In Aquatic Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic Interactions with Pollutants and Consequences to Aquatic Ecosystems: What We Know and What We Do Not Know

2022

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Plastics are a group of synthetic materials made of organic polymers and some additives with special characteristics. Plastics have become part of our daily life due to their many applications and uses. However, inappropriately managed plastic waste has raised concern regarding their ecotoxicological and human health risks in the long term. Due to the non-biodegradable nature of plastics, their waste may take several thousands of years to partially degrade in natural environments. Plastic fragments/particles can be very minute in size and are mistaken easily for prey or food by aquatic organisms (e.g., invertebrates, fishes). The surface properties of plastic particles, including large surface area, functional groups, surface topography, point zero charge, influence the sorption of various contaminants, including heavy metals, oil spills, PAHs, PCBs and DDT. Despite the fact that the number of studies on the biological effects of plastic particles on biota and humans has been increasing in recent years, studies on mixtures of plastics and other chemical contaminants in the aquatic environment are still limited. This review aims to gather information about the main characteristics of plastic particles that allow different types of contaminants to adsorb on their surfaces, the consequences of this adsorption, and the interactions of plastic particles with aquatic biota. Additionally, some missing links and potential solutions are presented to boost more research on this topic and achieve a holistic view on the effects of micro- and nanoplastics to biological systems in aquatic environments. It is urgent to implement measures to deal with plastic pollution that include improving waste management, monitoring key plastic particles, their hotspots, and developing their assessment techniques, using alternative products, determining concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics and the contaminants in freshwater and marine food-species consumed by humans, applying clean-up and remediation strategies, and biodegradation strategies.

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“…Prior studies have demonstrated that unique communities of bacteria colonize plastic debris surfaces compared to the bacterial communities in the surrounding seawater, and these communities have been since dubbed the “Plastisphere” 18 . These plastic associated biofilms have also been found to carry unique fungal communities as well as harmful algal species 19 . Few studies have described an association between microplastics and pathogenic microorganisms and have primarily focused on halophilic bacteria such as Vibrio spp 18 , 20 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of zoonotic protozoan parasites with microplastics in seawater and implications for human and wildlife health

Zhang

Kim

Rueda

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Plastics are widely recognized as a pervasive marine pollutant. Microplastics have been garnering increasing attention due to reports documenting their ingestion by animals, including those intended for human consumption. Their accumulation in the marine food chain may also pose a threat to wildlife that consume species that can accumulate microplastic particles. Microplastic contamination in marine ecosystems has thus raised concerns for both human and wildlife health. Our study addresses an unexplored area of research targeting the interaction between plastic and pathogen pollution of coastal waters. We investigated the association of the zoonotic protozoan parasites Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Giardia enterica with polyethylene microbeads and polyester microfibers. These pathogens were chosen because they have been recognized by the World Health Organization as underestimated causes of illness from shellfish consumption, and due to their persistence in the marine environment. We show that pathogens are capable of associating with microplastics in contaminated seawater, with more parasites adhering to microfiber surfaces as compared with microbeads. Given the global presence of microplastics in fish and shellfish, this study demonstrates a novel pathway by which anthropogenic pollutants may be mediating pathogen transmission in the marine environment, with important ramifications for wildlife and human health.

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Biofilm on microplastics in aqueous environment: Physicochemical properties and environmental implications

Cited by 159 publications

References 152 publications

Degradation of plastics associated with the COVID-19 pandemic

Degradation of plastics associated with the COVID-19 pandemic

Plastic Interactions with Pollutants and Consequences to Aquatic Ecosystems: What We Know and What We Do Not Know

Association of zoonotic protozoan parasites with microplastics in seawater and implications for human and wildlife health

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