New Insights into the Microbial Succession and Health Risks of Atmospheric Plastispheres

New insights into the microbial succession and health risks of atmospheric plastispheres

Researchers conducted a two-month outdoor experiment to study how bacteria colonize atmospheric microplastics and found that while initial colonization was polymer-specific, communities gradually converged over time. Seven pathogenic species were specifically enriched on plastic surfaces, with some appearing only in later stages of biofilm development, suggesting that airborne microplastics may serve as carriers that accumulate and potentially transmit harmful bacteria.