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The “Microplastome” – A Holistic Perspective to Capture the Real-World Ecology of Microplastics
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This paper introduces the concept of the "microplastome," a framework for studying microplastics along with everything attached to them, including absorbed chemicals and colonizing microbes, as a unified system. The authors argue that current research too often looks at microplastics in isolation, when in reality the attached pollutants and bacteria may be just as important for understanding health effects. This more complete approach could lead to better risk assessments of how microplastic pollution actually affects ecosystems and human health.
Microplastic pollution, an emerging pollution issue, has become a significant environmental concern globally due to its ubiquitous, persistent, complex, toxic, and ever-increasing nature. As a multifaceted and diverse suite of small plastic particles with different physicochemical properties and associated matters such as absorbed chemicals and microbes, future research on microplastics will need to comprehensively consider their multidimensional attributes. Here, we introduce a novel, conceptual framework of the "microplastome", defined as the entirety of various plastic particles (<5 mm), and their associated matters such as chemicals and microbes, found within a sample and its overall environmental and toxicological impacts. As a novel concept, this paper aims to emphasize and call for a collective quantification and characterization of microplastics and for a more holistic understanding regarding the differences, connections, and effects of microplastics in different biotic and abiotic ecosystem compartments. Deriving from this lens, we present our insights and prospective trajectories for characterization, risk assessment, and source apportionment of microplastics. We hope this new paradigm can guide and propel microplastic research toward a more holistic era and contribute to an informed strategy for combating this globally important environmental pollution issue.
More Papers Like This
It’s a matter of microbes: a perspective on the microbiological aspects of micro- and nanoplastics in human health
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Researchers highlighted an often-overlooked aspect of micro- and nanoplastic pollution: the microorganisms that colonize plastic particles and how they might affect human health. The study suggests that the microbial communities living on plastic surfaces, known as the plastisphere, could carry harmful bacteria into the human body through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact, representing an additional health risk beyond the plastics themselves.
Exploring the Microbiome of the Marine Microplastisphere
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This review examines the microbiome associated with microplastic particles in marine environments, known as the microplastisphere, describing it as a dynamic and complex ecosystem with significant ecological implications. Researchers found that the microplastisphere harbors distinct microbial communities distinct from surrounding seawater, with potential consequences for marine biodiversity and pollutant transport.
Rethinking Microplastic Toxicity and Ecological Effects: From Particle Identity and Dose to Bioaccumulation, Biomagnification, and Environmental Fate
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This review paper argues that finding microplastics in organisms does not automatically mean harmful buildup or risk. It proposes that particle size, shape, surface traits, and chemicals attached to plastics matter more than just counting particles, and suggests a new framework for studying how microplastics move through the environment and living things.
The Plastisphere Paradigm
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Tiny plastic bits (microplastics) floating around in water, soil, and even our environment don't stay bare—bacteria and other microbes quickly coat them in a slimy layer called a "plastisphere," turning each plastic fragment into a floating home for germs. This matters because these colonized microplastics have been linked to gut problems, immune reactions, and other health issues when ingested, and the microbial coating can make plastics stickier and potentially help harmful bacteria travel further into our food and water systems. This chapter reviews existing research on how these microbial communities form on plastics across oceans, lakes, and land, rather than pres
Environmental Fate, Plastisphere Microbial Dynamics, and Human Health Implications of Marine Micro- and Nanoplastics
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Tiny plastic bits in the ocean don't just float around alone—they quickly become coated with microbes, forming a kind of floating microbial ecosystem called the "plastisphere" that can carry harmful bacteria and chemicals through the food chain. This review of existing research suggests that exposure to these microplastics may be linked to inflammation, hormone disruption, and gut bacteria imbalances in animals, and possibly humans too—though scientists still need better tools to measure exactly how much risk this poses to our health.
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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.