Environmental Health Impact of Plastisphere

The increase in plastic pollution in aquatic environments has led to a rise in nano- and microplastics, and consequently plastisphere, ecosystems of microorganisms colonising microplastics. There has been a rapid increase in the number of plastisphere studies for aquatic ecosystems. However, much of this research has been centred on marine and estuarine ecosystems. Thus, research on the freshwater plastisphere is still in the early stages compared to marine and estuarine environments. Notwithstanding, general patterns can still be drawn from the literature, albeit from a limited number of published studies in freshwater systems. On one hand, the diverse microbial communities making up the plastisphere can be useful, aiding in breakdown of plastics in freshwater, through metabolism and degradation of plastic polymers. On the other hand, plastisphere presents a significant threat to environmental health, including in freshwater ecosystems. A major concern of plastisphere in freshwater ecosystems is its potential to impact aquatic organisms and human health, as well as its ability to disperse pollutants and invasive species. While the extent of freshwater plastisphere impact on human health is still not fully understood, emerging research suggests that the plastic debris making up the plastisphere can adsorb toxic contaminants from the surrounding waters, potentially facilitating their incorporation into the food chain. In addition, plastisphere microplastics have the potential to act as vectors for pathogens and antibiotic-resistant genes, posing further risks to aquatic organisms and human health. Thus, understanding the interactions between plastisphere and the surrounding water can help elucidate environmental and health risks associated with plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems. This chapter reviews the impacts of freshwater plastisphere on environmental health and also highlights its potential health risks on aquatic organisms and human health.