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Interactions between microplastics and organic contaminants: The microbial mechanisms for priming effects of organic compounds on microplastic biodegradation
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This study found that the antibiotic sulfadiazine, when present alongside polyethylene microplastics in the environment, actually boosted the growth of bacteria capable of breaking down both the antibiotic and the plastic. Other common organic pollutants had a similar effect, suggesting that chemical contamination can unexpectedly speed up microplastic biodegradation through a "priming effect" on microbial communities.
The co-presence of plastics and other organic contaminants is pervasive in various ecosystems, particularly in areas with intensive anthropogenic activities. Their interactions inevitably impact the composition and functions of the plastisphere microbiome, which in turn determines the trajectory of these contaminants. Antibiotics are a group of organic contaminants that warrant particular attention due to their wide presence in environments and significant potential to disseminate antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within the plastisphere. Therefore, this study investigated the impacts of sulfadiazine (SDZ), a prevalent environmental antibiotic, on the composition and function of the plastisphere microbial community inhabiting micro-polyethylene (mPE), one of the most common microplastic contaminants. Our findings indicated that the presence of SDZ increased the overall plastisphere microbial abundance and enriched populations that are capable of degrading both SDZ and mPE. The abundance of Aquabacterium, a dominant plastisphere population that is capable of degrading both SDZ and mPE, increased over the course of SDZ exposure, while another abundant mPE-degrading population, Ketobacter, remained stable. Accordingly, the removal of SDZ was enhanced in the presence of mPE. Moreover, the results further revealed that not only SDZ but also other labile organic contaminants (e.g., aniline and hexane) could accelerate mPE biodegradation through a priming effect. This investigation underscores the complex dynamics among microplastics, organic contaminants, and the plastisphere microbiome, offering insights into the environmental fate of plastic and antibiotic pollutants.
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Unveiling Mixed Microplastics and Organic Contaminants of Different Classes Affection: Dual-Phase Partitioning and Biofilm-Switch Mechanisms Dictate the Fate of Biodegradation
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Researchers found that microplastics regulate the biodegradation of co-occurring organic contaminants in a dose-dependent way—enhancing breakdown of sulfonamide antibiotics at environmentally realistic concentrations, but at high doses, polypropylene particles become potent sinks that retard triclosan degradation while accelerating their own weathering.
Effects of co-loading of polyethylene microplastics and ciprofloxacin on the antibiotic degradation efficiency and microbial community structure in soil
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Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics and the antibiotic ciprofloxacin together affect soil microbial communities and antibiotic degradation. The study found that co-loading of microplastics with antibiotics altered microbial community structure and affected the rate of antibiotic degradation in soil, suggesting microplastic contamination may influence how soils process pharmaceutical pollutants.
The impact of microplastic and sulfanilamide co-exposure on soil microbiota
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This study investigated what happens when microplastics and the antibiotic sulfanilamide are present together in soil, finding that the combination significantly altered soil microbial communities compared to either pollutant alone. Both conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics interacted with the antibiotic to change bacterial diversity and soil chemistry. The results show that microplastics and antibiotics in agricultural soil can have compounding effects on soil health, potentially affecting the crops grown in it.
Synergistic Pollution: Interactions Among Polyethylene, Surfactants, and Antibiotics in an Aquatic Environment
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Researchers investigated synergistic pollution effects among polyethylene microplastics, surfactants, and antibiotics in aquatic systems, finding that co-presence enhanced the environmental persistence and bioavailability of antibiotics beyond what microplastics or surfactants caused individually.
Roles of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter on the photodegradation of organic micropollutants
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Researchers discovered that dissolved organic matter released from weathered microplastics significantly inhibits the photodegradation of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole in water, primarily through light screening effects, suggesting microplastic pollution may slow the natural breakdown of pharmaceutical contaminants.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.