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Assessing biodegradation of roadway particles via complementary mass spectrometry and NMR analyses
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Tiny bits of tire and road debris wash off streets carrying hundreds of chemicals, but this study found that certain bacteria can actually break down some of these pollutants, including partially degrading the rubber itself. This matters because it suggests nature may have some built-in ways to clean up roadway pollution before it accumulates in soil, waterways, and potentially our food and water supply, though more research is needed to know how much this happens in the real world.
Roadway particles (RP) that can be collected with on-vehicle system, consist of a mixture of Tire and road wear particles (TRWP) with other traffic-derived particles (exhaust or non-exhaust) and/or biogenic compounds and represent a significant source of xenobiotics, susceptible to reach the different environmental compartments. The study of the RP fate is thus a major challenge to tackle in order to understand their degradation and impact. They offer a variety of carbon sources potentially usable by microorganisms, ranging from the tire-derived plasticizers, vulcanizing agents, protective agents and their transformation products, to other traffic, road and environmental-derived contaminants. A multi-analytical approach was implemented to characterize RP and study their biodegradation. Kinetics of RP extractions were monitored during 21 days in water, methanol, acetone and chloroform to identify leaching and extractable compounds and monitor the particle composition. The results confirmed that hundreds of readily leachable chemicals can be extracted from RP directly into water according to a dynamic process with time while additional poorly soluble compounds remain in the particles. Mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS and GC-MS) allowed us to propose 296 putative compounds using an extensive rubber database. The capacity of 6 bacterial strains, belonging to Rhodococcus, Pseudomonas and Streptomyces genera, to biodegrade RP was then evaluated over 14 days of incubation. The selected strains were able to grow on RP using various substrates. Elastomer monitoring by 1H NMR revealed a significant 12 % decrease of the extractable SBR fraction when the particles were incubated with Rhodococcus ruber. After incubation, the biodegradation of 171 compounds among leachable and extractable compounds was evaluated. Fatty acids and alkanes from rubber plasticizers and paraffin waxes were the most degraded putative compounds by the six strains tested, reaching 75 % of biodegradation for some of them.
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Tiny plastic particles called microplastics and nanoplastics have spread throughout our soil and water, and scientists once thought they'd stick around forever—but this review of existing research shows certain microbes and environmental conditions (like sunlight, heat, and moisture) can actually break some of them down. This matters because it hints at future cleanup methods using bacteria, fungi, or even plants working with microbes to reduce plastic pollution before it builds up further in our food and water supplies. That said, scientists still don't fully understand how this breakdown happens or whether it's safe and scalable enough to rely on, so more research is needed before this
Microbial Bioremediation of Microplastics
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Tiny plastic bits called microplastics are now everywhere in our environment—and even in our bodies—raising concerns about long-term health effects. This review paper rounds up what scientists currently know about using bacteria and other microbes to break down these plastic particles, a promising cleanup strategy, while also pointing out the challenges researchers still need to solve before it works at scale. The takeaway: nature may offer tools to help tackle plastic pollution, but we're not there yet, so reducing microplastic use in the first place still matters for protecting our health.
Microplastic Associated Microorganisms: Isolation, Identification and Assessment of Biofilm-Based Degradation Potential
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Scientists found naturally occurring bacteria and fungi living on microplastics in polluted soil and water that can actually break down these tiny plastic particles over time. This matters because microplastics are showing up everywhere—including in our food, water, and bodies—and these microbe-based cleanup methods could offer a more natural, sustainable way to reduce plastic pollution before it accumulates further in our environment and, potentially, our health.
Cleaning Up the Smallest Pollutants: The Potential of Microbial Degradation in Tackling Micro- and Nano-Plastic Pollution
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Researchers reviewed the potential of microbes to break down micro- and nanoplastics in the environment, including in agricultural soils where plastics enter the food chain. While microbial degradation shows promise as a cleanup strategy, significant challenges remain before it can be applied at scale.
Microbial degradation of contaminants of emerging concern: metabolic, genetic and omics insights for enhanced bioremediation
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This review covers how microorganisms have evolved the ability to break down emerging pollutants including plasticizers, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides, turning them into less harmful substances. Understanding the genes, enzymes, and metabolic pathways these microbes use could lead to cost-effective, eco-friendly cleanup methods for removing persistent contaminants -- including plastic-derived chemicals -- from the environment before they reach people.
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