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Combined effect of microplastics and copper complex on phytoplankton photosynthetic carbon sequestration: Intelligent sensing and multi-perspective analysis of copper bioavailability
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Researchers used intelligent copper speciation sensing to show that polystyrene microplastics antagonize copper-ligand complexes in phytoplankton, suppressing rather than enhancing carbon sequestration—revealing an unexpected antagonistic mechanism by which plastic-metal interactions could undermine the ocean's capacity to fix atmospheric CO2.
The amount of carbon sequestration by phytoplankton accounts for about 50% of the total carbon sequestration on Earth. Microplastics are one of the new pollutants, and the ecological effects of microplastics-trace metals coupling on phytoplankton have attracted much attention. Copper is an important cofactor in the photosynthesis and respiration of phytoplankton, and its bioavailability is closely related to its speciation distribution and environmental factors. Here, we studied the effect of microplastics on copper bioavailability through intelligent sensing speciation and multi-perspective analysis and then how it affects the carbon sequestration of phytoplankton. Under the addition of PS, copper ligands, and PS‑copper ligands, when the concentration of copper absorption increased by 1 pg/cell, the carbon sequestration increased by 106.25, 406.43, and 2.47 μmol/min, respectively. We found that copper ligands could enhance carbon sequestration to varying degrees due to the influence of copper bioavailability, while PS had an inhibitory effect. Especially, the inhibitory effect was more pronounced under the addition of PS-copper ligands, showing an antagonistic effect. The study revealed the antagonistic mechanism of microplastic‑copper complexes from the perspective of the relationship between copper bioavailability and carbon sequestration for the first time. Thereby, it provided a new scientific basis for assessing the ecological risks of microplastics. It also offered a new perspective for elucidating the mechanism by which microplastic‑copper complexes influence the relationship between copper bioavailability and carbon sequestration.
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Researchers investigated how nanoplastics affect the availability of copper to marine phytoplankton, which play a critical role in capturing carbon from the atmosphere. They found that nanoplastics reduced the amount of copper available to these organisms, impairing their photosynthesis and carbon sequestration capacity. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in the ocean could indirectly weaken a key natural process for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
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Researchers investigated whether polyethylene microplastics act as an antidote or a Trojan horse for copper toxicity to submerged aquatic plants. The study found that microplastics reduced dissolved copper concentrations through adsorption but could then release copper-loaded particles that were taken up by plants. The results suggest that microplastics may initially reduce copper toxicity in water but ultimately serve as carriers that deliver copper directly into plant tissues.
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Researchers compared copper adsorption onto pristine and aged microplastics versus natural particles like algae and sediments in seawater, finding that natural particles generally had higher metal-sequestering capacity, challenging the emphasis on microplastics as dominant metal-transport vectors.
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