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Plastisphere-biofouling nexus: a systematic and bibliometric synthesis of emerging microbial assemblages on microplastics in coastal waters.
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Tiny plastic bits floating in coastal waters act like little rafts that bacteria and other microbes can grow on, forming their own communities (sometimes called the "plastisphere"). This review of 124 studies found that while these microbial hitchhikers are real and sometimes include bacteria linked to infections, there's currently no solid proof that this makes microplastics more dangerous to human health—scientists still need more consistent research to know for sure.
Microplastics in coastal waters provide persistent surfaces for microbial colonization and biofilm formation, supporting complex microbial assemblages known as the plastisphere. This study examines the plastisphere-biofouling nexus through a PRISMA-guided systematic review, bibliometric mapping, narrative-quantitative synthesis, and conceptual evidence integration of studies published between 2015 and 2025. From 1,248 records identified in Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus, 124 primary studies were retained for comparative synthesis. The reviewed evidence shows that microplastics frequently support distinct biofilm-associated microbial communities, although reported patterns vary across polymer type, exposure duration, environmental setting, microbial method, and biofilm measurement approach. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were repeatedly reported among dominant bacterial groups, while opportunistic genera such as and were detected in some plastisphere biofilms. Evidence for polymer-specific microbial diversity, contaminant retention, and environmental-driver effects remains context-dependent. Biofilm-coated microplastics may modify contaminant interactions under specific conditions, but current evidence does not support universal contaminant enhancement, confirmed pathogen transmission, or direct human health risk. This review identifies the plastisphere-biofouling nexus as an emerging ecological interface in coastal waters and highlights the need for standardized, field-relevant, and functionally validated studies.
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Marine microplastic-associated biofilms – a review
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This review synthesizes research on biofilm communities forming on marine microplastics, covering their composition, formation dynamics, and potential consequences for both plastic fate and ocean microbiology. The authors highlight that plastic-associated biofilms can include pathogens and toxin producers, and that the plastisphere community differs meaningfully from the surrounding seawater microbiome.
Aquatic plastisphere: Interactions between plastics and biofilms
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Researchers reviewed the ecology of the aquatic plastisphere—biofilms colonizing plastic debris—finding that plastic surfaces selectively enrich microbial taxa, including pathogens and pollutant-degraders, with community composition shaped by polymer type, UV weathering, and aquatic environment.
Plastisphere–biofouling nexus: a systematic and bibliometric synthesis of emerging microbial assemblages on microplastics in coastal waters
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic bits floating in coastal waters act like rafts for bacteria, forming a slimy microbial community scientists call the "plastisphere" — and this review of 124 studies found that some potentially harmful bacteria, like Vibrio (a group that includes food poisoning and infection-causing strains), can be part of that mix. However, the evidence is still too inconsistent to say whether these plastic-riding microbes actually pose a real risk to human health, so more standardized research is needed before drawing firm conclusions.
Plastisphere–biofouling nexus: a systematic and bibliometric synthesis of emerging microbial assemblages on microplastics in coastal waters
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic bits floating in coastal water act like little rafts that bacteria and other microbes can grow on, forming a slimy coating scientists call the "plastisphere." This review of over 100 studies found that these microbial communities sometimes include bacteria like Vibrio, which can cause illness, but the evidence is too inconsistent right now to say these plastic-riding microbes actually pose a proven health risk to people. Bottom line: it's a real and growing area of concern worth watching, but more standardized research is needed before drawing firm conclusions about human health effects.
Microplastic-Associated Biofilms: A Comparison of Freshwater and Marine Environments
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This review compared microplastic-associated biofilm communities in freshwater and marine environments, examining how plastic type, ecosystem, and environmental conditions shape the microbial communities that colonize plastic surfaces. Understanding these "plastisphere" communities is important because they may include pathogens and can affect the fate and transport of plastic particles.
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