In-sewer microplastics drive microbial metabolic shifts toward enhanced methanogenesis

Summary

Tiny plastic bits (microplastics) that wash down our drains don't just pass through sewers harmlessly — they actually break down further and change how bacteria in the sewage behave, causing them to produce more methane, a greenhouse gas. This matters because it shows our sewer systems are quietly becoming breeding grounds for altered microplastic pollution and shifted microbial activity, which could affect both environmental health and the water treatment processes that protect our communities. While this study didn't directly test effects on human bodies, it highlights how widespread plastic pollution is reshaping the hidden ecosystems connected to our water supply.