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The effects of metals and polymer types on the development of biofilm on microplastic surface
Summary
Researchers examined biofilm development on three polymer types (PVC, polystyrene, and polyethylene) in the presence of three heavy metals (lead, chromium, and cadmium) to determine how metal contamination influences the formation and composition of plastisphere communities. The study assessed whether metal-microplastic co-contamination alters the structure of microbial biofilms that colonize plastic surfaces in aquatic environments.
Once released into the environment, microplastics (MP) are quickly colonized by various microorganisms. Over time, they can form a stable biofilm on their surface, which can alter the properties of MPs and also influence the interactions of MPs with the surrounding environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the formation of a biofilm on three types of MPs (PVC 485 ± 338 µm, PS 127 ± 30 µm, PE 192 ± 129 µm) in the presence of three different metals (Pb, Cr, Cd). Each MP type (5 g/L) was aged separately with each metal type (5 µg/L) in a freshwater from a natural stream for six weeks. After the first and sixth weeks, the biofilm was evaluated by determining the mass of the biofilm, the amount of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and the concentration of chlorophyll a. The polymer type of the MP had a major influence on the presence of biofilm; almost 50 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559434/document