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The effect of tire microplastics on aerobic granular sludge performance

Emerging contaminants 2025 3 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 48 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Piotr Jachimowicz, Job Oliver Otieno, Job Oliver Otieno, Job Oliver Otieno, Job Oliver Otieno, Piotr Jachimowicz, Piotr Jachimowicz, Piotr Jachimowicz, Magdalena Zielińska, Piotr Jachimowicz, Piotr Jachimowicz, Piotr Jachimowicz, Piotr Jachimowicz, Piotr Jachimowicz, Piotr Jachimowicz, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Piotr Jachimowicz, Weronika Irena Mądzielewska Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Magdalena Zielińska, Piotr Jachimowicz, Piotr Jachimowicz, Piotr Jachimowicz, Weronika Irena Mądzielewska Weronika Irena Mądzielewska Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Piotr Jachimowicz, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Job Oliver Otieno, Magdalena Zielińska, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Piotr Jachimowicz, Piotr Jachimowicz, Magdalena Zielińska, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Weronika Irena Mądzielewska Weronika Irena Mądzielewska Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Agnieszka Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Weronika Irena Mądzielewska

Summary

Researchers exposed aerobic granular sludge — a wastewater treatment microbe community — to tire-derived microplastics and found that while nutrient removal stayed largely intact, tire particles built up to over half the biomass at high doses and altered the microbial community in ways that increase antibiotic resistance genes. The results show that tire microplastics reaching wastewater plants pose a hidden challenge for sludge management and microbial safety.

Although tire microplastics (TMPs) constitute a substantial portion of microplastic entering wastewater treatment plants, there is a knowledge gap regarding the influence of TMPs on aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems, which, being more resilient than activated sludge, are becoming increasingly important in modern wastewater treatment. This study investigated the effect of TMPs in wastewater (50, 100, 250, and 500 mg/L) on AGS performance and microbiome. TMPs did not affect organics and phosphorus removal, however, total nitrogen removal was significantly higher (about 9%) at 500 mg TMPs/L compared to the control. TMPs improved biomass settling, but this was due to TMP accumulation (TMPs comprised over 50% of biomass at 500 mg TMP/L) rather than improved granulation. The biomass yield coefficient was five times lower at 500 mg TMP/L than in the control. TMPs elevated dehydrogenase activity (free radical generation) and increased the abundance of microbes involved in polyP synthesis and nitrogen metabolism. TMP presence increased the microbiome potential in terms of antibiotic resistance genes ( cmd and marR ) and the abundance of hydrolases, which degrade rubber-associated ester bonds, and significantly increased the abundance of MP-degraders belonging to genera Ideonella, Rhodobacter , Xanthobacter, and Hydrogenophaga . This study demonstrates that while TMPs in wastewater do not impair nutrient removal by AGS, their accumulation significantly degrades biomass properties, complicating sludge management and disposal. Furthermore, TMPs alter the AGS microbiome's composition and metabolic potential. These findings highlight the importance of integrating AGS systems into urban wastewater treatment, optimizing sludge management strategies, and developing targeted approaches to address the challenges posed by TMPs. • Tire microplastic (TMP) enhanced nitrogen conversions in aerobic granules (AG) • The highest TMP dose caused a 52% TMP buildup in AG and decreased biomass yield • TMP increased dehydrogenase activity and abundance of hydrolases in AG • Increased antibiotic resistance in the microbiome of TMP-exposed AG • TMP increased the abundance of bacteria with plastic degradation potential

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