We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Contrasting toxic effects and recovery potential of AnGS exposed to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics: Modulating roles of particle size and surface functionalization
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested how tiny plastic particles (micro- and nanoplastics) affect the helpful bacteria used in wastewater treatment plants to remove pollution, and found that plastics with a positively-charged coating caused the most damage, disrupting bacterial function in ways the system couldn't fully recover from even after the plastic exposure stopped. This matters because these bacteria play a key role in cleaning our wastewater, and if microplastics are quietly harming the treatment process, it could mean less effective pollution removal — a reminder that plastic pollution's effects ripple beyond the environment into the infrastructure that ke
Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) systems are highly sensitive biological nitrogen removal processes, yet the acute effects and recovery potential of anaerobic granular sludge (AnGS) exposed to micro-/nanoplastics with different surface functionalizations remain insufficiently understood. This study systematically investigated the acute toxic effects and short-term recovery responses of AnGS exposed to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MP), pristine polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NP), and surface-functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NH 2 and PS-COOH) under a 12 h exposure and 12 h recovery period.The results showed that the toxicity of PS-MNPs was jointly influenced by particle size and surface functionalization, with an inhibition intensity order of PS-NH 2 > PS-NP > PS-MP > PS-COOH. PS-NH 2 caused the strongest inhibition of nitrogen removal and showed incomplete recovery within the tested recovery period, accompanied by marked oxidative stress. Protein secondary structure analysis further suggested that PS-NH 2 induced pronounced conformational disturbance of proteins in the TB-EPS layer, as indicated by a decrease in α-helix proportion and an increase in aggregated strands. In contrast, PS-COOH caused substantial EPS protein loss but showed relatively weaker functional inhibition, indicating that EPS quantity alone could not fully explain the recovery of AnGS function. The recovery results further suggested that protein conformational integrity may be more important than total protein content for restoring system performance. Overall, this study reveals that PS-MNPs toxicity to AnGS involves both biological stress and EPS structural disturbance, providing a molecular-level perspective for assessing the ecological risks of micro-/nanoplastics in Anammox-based wastewater treatment systems.
More Papers Like This
Polyethylene microplastics impose reversible redox suppression in sulfur-driven wastewater treatment systems under antibiotic co-stress
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (microplastics) can weaken the "helpful bacteria" wastewater treatment plants use to break down antibiotics and pollutants, causing cell stress and reducing how well antibiotics get removed from water. The good news: this damage isn't permanent—once the microplastics were removed, the bacteria bounced back and antibiotic removal returned to normal. This matters because it suggests treatment plants could recover from temporary microplastic pollution spikes, but it also shows how these tiny plastics can interfere with systems designed to keep contaminants like antibiotics out of our water supply
Enhancement of magnetic biochar on nitrogen removal performance of Anammox granular sludge under acute polystyrene nanoplastics stress
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) can disrupt the helpful bacteria used in wastewater treatment plants to remove harmful nitrogen pollution from water, potentially making these systems less effective. This study found that adding a special charcoal-like material (magnetic biochar) can protect these bacteria by soaking up the nanoplastics and helping the microbes stay healthy and productive. This matters because as plastic pollution grows, keeping our water treatment systems working properly is essential for clean water and, ultimately, for reducing the plastic particles that end up in our environment and potentially our bodies.
Mechanistic insights into superior biofilm formation with heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification bacteria under polypropylene microplastic stress
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics are known to mess with the helpful bacteria that treat wastewater and remove nitrogen pollution, but this study found that using a special type of bacteria to "seed" water treatment systems made them much more resistant to this disruption. This matters because as plastic pollution keeps growing, protecting the microbial communities that clean our water is essential for keeping waterways—and the water we eventually drink—free of excess nitrogen pollution.
Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on extracellular polymeric substance composition of activated sludge: The role of surface functional groups
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how three types of polystyrene nanoplastics with different surface functional groups affect activated sludge used in wastewater treatment. All three types significantly reduced total protein production in the sludge and caused cellular oxidative stress and membrane damage, with positively charged particles causing the most harm. The findings suggest that nanoplastic contamination in wastewater could impair the biological processes essential for effective sewage treatment.
Mechanisms underlying the detrimental impact of micro(nano)plastics on the stability of aerobic granular sludge: Interactions between micro(nano)plastics and extracellular polymeric substances
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that both micro- and nanoplastics at realistic concentrations harmed the performance of aerobic granular sludge, a technology used for wastewater treatment, by reducing its ability to remove nitrogen. The plastic particles interacted with the sticky substances that hold the sludge granules together, weakening their structural integrity. The study reveals a specific mechanism by which plastic pollution can undermine wastewater treatment systems that communities rely on for clean water.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.