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Impact of Heterosigma akashiwo on the environmental behavior of microplastics: Aggregation, sinking, and resuspension dynamics

Journal of Hazardous Materials 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.

Young Kyun Lim, Young Kyun Lim, Young Kyun Lim, Sang Hee Hong Chung Hyeon Lee, Kyun‐Woo Lee, Young Kyun Lim, Young Kyun Lim, Young Kyun Lim, Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Young Kyun Lim, Young Kyun Lim, Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Young Kyun Lim, Young Kyun Lim, Young Kyun Lim, Kyun‐Woo Lee, Chung Hyeon Lee, Young Kyun Lim, Young Kyun Lim, Sang Hee Hong Chung Hyeon Lee, Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Kyun‐Woo Lee, Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Kyun‐Woo Lee, Kyun‐Woo Lee, Kyun‐Woo Lee, Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Chung Hyeon Lee, Seung Ho Baek, Seung Ho Baek, Seung Ho Baek, Kyun‐Woo Lee, Kyun‐Woo Lee, Kyun‐Woo Lee, Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Young Kyun Lim, Kyun‐Woo Lee, Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Young Kyun Lim, Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Seung Ho Baek, Kyun‐Woo Lee, Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong Sang Hee Hong

Summary

The harmful microalga Heterosigma akashiwo promoted aggregation and sinking of microplastics through extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) rather than direct cell attachment, with aggregation causing low-density PE spheres to sink following a logistic curve—demonstrating how harmful algal blooms can alter microplastic vertical distribution.

Polymers

HDPE PE PP

Aggregation processes of microalgae have significant effects on the vertical distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment. This study explored how the harmful microalga Heterosigma akashiwo affects the aggregation and sinking characteristics of four types of MPs: low and high-density polyethylene (PE) spheres, and small and large polypropylene (PP) fragments. The aggregation of MPs was primarily driven by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) rather than direct attachment to the cells, contributing to their sinking. The sinking of low-density PE spheres followed a logistic function, saturating at 28 % with a half-saturation time of 9 days. In contrast, small PP fragments sank minimally (under 2 %) and large PP fragments showed almost no sinking, indicating the varying impacts of MP density and size. The sinking velocity of the MP aggregates was significantly lower for low-density PE spheres (0.63 mm∙s) than for high-density PE spheres (0.81 mm∙s), despite no significant differences in aggregate size or MP particle number. This result may suggest that low-density MPs could potentially affect marine carbon cycle. Furthermore, no clear evidence was found for the resuspension of the settled aggregates due to bacterial decomposition under dark and cold conditions. As the first experimental study to explore the aggregation, sinking, and resuspension of different MPs in the presence of H. akashiwo, these findings, when integrated with field observations and modeling studies, provide valuable insights for predicting MP distribution in marine environments.

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