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Impact of microplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on microbial communities in marine sediments: A case study of the Bohai Sea
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Microplastics and oil-related chemicals (PAHs) are both common ocean pollutants, and this study found that while each one alone barely disturbed seafloor microbial communities, together they significantly reduced microbial diversity and disrupted bacteria that break down pollutants and cycle nutrients. This matters because these microbes help naturally clean up toxic chemicals in the ocean, so weakening them could mean pollutants like PAHs — which are linked to cancer risk in humans — stick around longer in the marine environment, including in seafood that eventually reaches our plates.
Microplastics (MPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous marine contaminants. While MPs adsorb PAHs, altering their behavior, the combined effects on sediment microorganisms remain unclear. This study employed a micro-ecosystem experimental approach to investigate the effects of MPs (represented by polystyrene, Ps) and PAHs (represented by phenanthrene, Phe) and their combined exposure (CoPhe) on microbial community composition, biodiversity, assembly processes, and RMT-based networks in marine sediments. Results indicated that individual Ps or Phe additions did not significantly alter microbial diversity, composition, or assembly patterns. Conversely, combined exposure significantly reduced microbial diversity, shifted community composition, and markedly affected key functional taxa, including PAH-degrading bacteria (Porticoccus, Sulfurovum, Desulfobulbus, and Clostridia) and nitrogen-metabolizing bacteria (Alphaproteobacteria and Desulfobacteria). Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that the Ps treatment exhibited the highest number of nodes and edges, reflecting greater community complexity, whereas the Phe and CoPhe treatments showed no marked differences. Moreover, CoPhe networks exhibited a lower proportion of positive correlations (66.14%) than Ps (85.14%) and Phe (79.67%), indicating that the combined toxicity of Ps and Phe may disrupt microbial synergistic metabolism and functional complementarity, thereby potentially increasing competitive or antagonistic interactions under modified niche and resource conditions. Analysis of assembly mechanisms revealed that stochastic processes predominantly governed microbial taxa assembly, with intensified dispersal limitation under co-exposure. This study investigates the combined effects of MPs and PAHs on microbial communities, extending beyond conventional single-pollutant studies and filling research gaps regarding microbial composition, co-occurrence networks, and assembly mechanisms in high-salinity, low-hydrodynamic marine sediment environments.
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Combined influence of the nanoplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure on microbial community in seawater environment
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Researchers studied the individual and combined effects of nanoplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on microbial communities in seawater. They found that the combination of these two pollutants altered microbial diversity and community structure differently than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that the interaction between nanoplastics and chemical pollutants in the ocean may have complex and unpredictable effects on marine microbial ecosystems.
Microplastics and PAHs mixed contamination: An in-depth review on the sources, co-occurrence, and fate in marine ecosystems
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This review examines how microplastics and PAHs (cancer-causing chemicals from fossil fuel burning) interact in ocean environments, with microplastics acting as carriers that help spread these toxic chemicals through marine ecosystems. This combined contamination matters for human health because both pollutants can accumulate in seafood and potentially reach people through diet.
Investigation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) absorption from seawater to model microplastic particles
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Tiny plastic particles floating in seawater can act like sponges, soaking up toxic pollutants called PAHs (chemicals linked to cancer that come from sources like oil spills and burning fuel). This study found that certain plastics and pollutant combinations stick together more than others, meaning microplastics could be hitching a ride for these toxins through the ocean and potentially into the seafood we eat. Understanding which plastics absorb the most pollution helps scientists predict where these combined risks might be highest.
Microplastics and associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface water and sediment of the Bay of Bengal coastal area, India: sources, pathway and ecological risk
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface water and sediment along two Bay of Bengal coastal beaches in India and found microplastics present at both sites. They also detected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, a group of harmful chemicals, adsorbed onto the microplastic surfaces at concentrations that varied by particle shape. The study highlights that microplastics in coastal waters act as carriers for toxic organic pollutants, potentially increasing ecological risks in the marine environment.
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