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An emerging sink for phosphorus in lake ecosystems: Microplastic-enabled iron and phosphorus costabilization in the overlying water
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This study showed that microplastics floating in lake water can act as surfaces that convert dissolved iron into a form that binds phosphorus, effectively pulling phosphorus out of the water column—but the same microplastics could later release that phosphorus back if conditions change. The mechanism varied by polymer type: some plastics formed chemical bonds with phosphorus while others caused physical crystal growth. Because phosphorus drives algal blooms and eutrophication, this previously unrecognized role of microplastics as phosphorus carriers adds a new dimension to how plastic pollution affects lake water quality.
While microplastics (MPs) are known to influence the biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus (P) in lake ecosystems, a critical gap remains in understanding their specific role as environmental vectors in the overlying water. This study investigated the mechanisms and aging effects (induced by UV irradiation) of MPs acting as novel interfaces mediating iron-phosphorus immobilization under simulated lake overlying water conditions (neutral pH and low dissolved oxygen, < 0.2 mg/L). The results indicated that unaged and aged MPs exhibited no adsorption capacity for P in only PO condition. In contrast, within the Fe(II) and PO co-existing condition, MPs mediated the surface oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III); the resulting Fe(III) then enabled the efficient co-immobilization with PO through distinct microscopic mechanisms specific to each polymer type. Specifically, Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE) and Polylactic Acid (PLA) achieved this via chemical bridging (Fe-O-P bonds), whereas Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE) relied on physically induced heterogeneous nucleation. The increased capacity of PP, PE, and CPE (12%-17.2%) correlated with the rise in surface oxygen-containing functional groups after aging. Conversely, the capacity of PLA decreased because crystallization encapsulated the active sites. This study demonstrates the effective and polymer-specific immobilization of P onto MPs in Fe(II)-rich overlying water. This process enables MPs to function as both temporary sinks and potential mobile carriers with re-release risks, highlighting the necessity of incorporating such mechanisms into eutrophication risk assessments.
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Effects of plastisphere on phosphorus availability in freshwater system: Critical roles of polymer type and colonizing habitat
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This study examined how biofilm-covered microplastics of different polymer types affect phosphorus availability in freshwater, finding that polymer type and colonization habitat determined whether plastisphere biofilms acted as phosphorus sources or sinks, with implications for nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems.
Remediation of biochar-supported effective microorganisms and microplastics on multiple forms of nitrogenous and phosphorous in eutrophic lake
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A water-sediment mesocosm study of a eutrophic lake found that aging microplastics lowered nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the water column by stimulating microbial biofilm activity, but also increased ecological risks in sediments by mobilizing iron and sulfide. The results show that microplastics interact in complex ways with nutrient cycling and heavy metal behavior in lake systems, complicating remediation strategies for polluted water bodies.
Effect of microplastics on phosphorus mobility in freshwater sediments
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Tiny plastic particles from common plastics (PET bottles and PLA "biodegradable" plastic) don't just sit inertly in lake and river sediments, they actually change how phosphorus, a key nutrient, is stored and released, mainly by boosting microbial activity. This matters because shifts in phosphorus cycling can affect water quality and algae growth, showing that microplastic pollution may have ripple effects on freshwater ecosystems we rely on for drinking water and food.
Varied influence of aged microplastics and related leachates on phosphorus transformation and release from the sediments
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Researchers investigated how aged microplastics and their chemical leachates affect phosphorus cycling in freshwater sediments, a process linked to harmful algal blooms. They found that different types of weathered plastics and their leachates altered microbial communities and shifted the forms of phosphorus present in sediments. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in lake and river sediments may contribute to nutrient imbalances that worsen water quality problems.
Environmental fate and biogeochemical impacts of microplastics on phosphorus cycling across aquatic interfaces
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Tiny plastic particles in our lakes and rivers don't just pollute water, they're quietly messing with phosphorus, a nutrient that controls algae growth and water quality. This review of 38 studies found that microplastics change how phosphorus moves and cycles by altering bacteria communities and chemical reactions in water, which could worsen problems like harmful algae blooms that affect drinking water safety. The research is still early-stage (mostly lab experiments), but it's a reminder that plastic pollution's effects go beyond what we can see, reaching into the basic chemistry that keeps water ecosystems, and the water we dep
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