Exploring the role of cytochrome bc1 complexes in alleviating the inhibition of microbial nitrogen metabolism by nanoplastics: Insights into the use of recycled aggregates from constructed wetlands

Nanoplastics occurrence, detection methods, and impact on the nitrogen cycle: a review

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Researchers reviewing nanoplastic contamination find these particles are widespread across ecosystems but true concentrations remain unknown due to detection limitations, and laboratory studies show nanoplastics disrupt microbial membranes, induce oxidative stress, and significantly inhibit nitrogen cycling.

Toxic effects of nanoplastics on biological nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands: Evidence from iron utilization and metabolism

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Researchers found that nanoplastics in wastewater disrupt biological nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands by interfering with intracellular iron homeostasis, which cripples the key enzymes and electron transport chains that microbes use for nitrogen metabolism, reducing nitrogen removal efficiency by about 30%.

Microplastics can Alter the Nitrogen Cycle in Surface Flow Constructed Wetlands

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Both conventional PVC and biodegradable PLA microplastics disrupted nitrogen cycling in constructed wetlands, with PVC causing ammonium accumulation and PLA acting as a carbon source, while both enhanced biofilm formation and enzyme activities at higher concentrations. These polymer-specific effects on nitrogen dynamics reveal that microplastic contamination poses distinct and complex threats to the water treatment functions of natural and engineered wetlands.

Hormetic dose-response relationships between polystyrene microplastics and nitrogen elimination decoded by biofilm dynamics in electro-assisted constructed wetlands

Microbial Nanobioremediation of Micro-Nanoplastics: Current Strategies, Challenges, and Future Prospects

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Researchers reviewed microbial nanobioremediation strategies — including bacterial biofilm formation, enzymatic degradation, and engineered microbial consortia — for breaking down micro- and nanoplastics in contaminated environments, while cataloging the significant challenges of slow degradation rates and toxicity to the remediating organisms. Developing effective biological cleanup methods is critical because micro- and nanoplastics are too small and widely distributed for mechanical collection, requiring in-situ solutions that work at the molecular level.