We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Interaction between Microplastics and Pathogens in Subsurface System: What We Know So Far
Summary
This review examines how microplastics interact with disease-causing bacteria and viruses in soil and groundwater. Microplastics can act as tiny rafts that carry pathogens through the environment, and factors like plastic type, surface properties, and soil conditions affect how far they travel together. Understanding this connection is important because contaminated groundwater is a source of drinking water, meaning microplastics could potentially help spread waterborne diseases.
Microplastics (MPs) are abundant in soil and the subsurface environment. They can co-transport with pathogens or act as vectors for pathogens, potentially causing severe ecological harm. The interaction of MPs with pathogens is an important topic. To describe the origins and features of MPs in the subsurface environment, we evaluated relevant studies conducted in the laboratory and field groundwater habitats. We explore the interactions between pathogens and microplastics from three perspectives including the respective physicochemical properties of microplastics and pathogens, external environmental factors, and the binding between microplastics and pathogens. The effects of some interaction mechanisms and environmental factors on their co-transport are discussed. The key factors affecting their interaction are the particle size, specific surface area, shape and functional groups of MPs, the zeta potential and auxiliary metabolic genes of pathogens, and the hydrophobicity of both. Environmental factors indirectly affect MPs and the interaction and co-transport process of pathogens by changing their surface properties. These findings advance our knowledge of the ecological behavior of MPs–pathogens and the associated potential health hazards.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
The hidden risk of microplastic-associated pathogens in aquatic environments
This review examines the overlooked risk that microplastics in water can serve as vehicles for disease-causing bacteria and other pathogens. Microplastics provide a surface where harmful microorganisms can grow, survive longer, and travel farther than they would on their own. This means microplastic pollution in lakes, rivers, and oceans could increase the risk of waterborne infections in people who swim in, drink from, or eat seafood from contaminated water.
Microplastics in groundwater: Environmental fate and possible interactions with coexisting contaminants
This review looked at how microplastics end up in groundwater and what happens when they interact with other pollutants already present. Researchers found that microplastic contamination in groundwater varies widely around the world, with levels ranging from zero to nearly 7,000 particles per liter. The study highlights that microplastics can act as carriers for other harmful substances, potentially increasing their ability to spread through groundwater and pose risks to ecosystems and human health.
Understanding Microplastic Pollution in Groundwater: Pathways, Health Implications and Solutions
This review examines how microplastics infiltrate groundwater systems through pathways including landfills, agricultural runoff, water treatment facilities, and aging plastic pipes. Researchers found that once in groundwater, microplastics can persist for long periods and degrade water quality while interacting with other subsurface contaminants. The study highlights that groundwater microplastic contamination is an underappreciated threat to one of humanity's most important freshwater sources.
Co-transport of Microplastics and a surrogate for Human Enteric Viruses in a saturated column packed with Quartz Sand
Laboratory column experiments found that microplastics can enhance the transport of a virus surrogate (PRD1 bacteriophage) through soil, suggesting that microplastics may act as carriers that help human enteric viruses travel further into groundwater systems. This is a meaningful public health concern, as it implies microplastics could amplify the risk of viral contamination in drinking water sources.
A comprehensive review on microplastics: Their presence in surface and ground water, environmental distribution, and impact on human and aquatic systems
This comprehensive review examines the distribution, environmental behavior, and health impacts of microplastics in surface water and groundwater systems. Researchers summarized how microplastics enter surface waters and subsequently infiltrate groundwater, acting as carriers for other contaminants along the way. The study emphasizes the need for standardized analytical procedures for groundwater microplastic research and highlights the role of particle size and morphology in determining potential health effects.