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Electroactive properties of EABs in response to long-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics/nanoplastics and the underlying adaptive mechanisms
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This study investigated how long-term exposure to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics affects bacteria that generate electricity in biofilms, which are used in wastewater treatment and environmental monitoring. After initial disruption, the bacteria adapted and actually increased their electrical activity over time. While technically focused on biofilm applications, the findings show that microplastics can fundamentally alter microbial behavior in the environment, which may have broader implications for how polluted ecosystems function.
Given widespread presence of polystyrene (PS) microplastics/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs), the electroactive responses and adaptation mechanisms of electroactive biofilms (EABs) exposed long-term to PS-containing aquatic environments remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the impacts of PS MPs/NPs on electroactivity of EABs. Results found that EABs exhibited delayed formation upon initially exposure but displayed an increased maximum current density (I) after subsequent exposure for up to 55 days. Notably, EABs exposure to NHPS NPs (EAB-NHPSNPs) demonstrated a 50% higher I than the control, along with a 17.84% increase in viability and a 58.10% increase in biomass. The cytochrome c (c-Cyts) content in EAB-NHPSNPs rose by 178.35%, benefiting the extracellular electron transfer (EET) of EABs. Moreover, bacterial community assembly indicated the relative abundance of electroactive bacteria increased to 87.56% in EAB-NHPSNPs. The adaptability mechanisms of EABs under prolonged exposure to PS MPs/NPs predominantly operate by adjusting viability, EET, and bacterial community assembly, which were further confirmed a positive correlation with I through structural equation model. These findings provide deeper insights into long-term effects and mechanisms of MPs/NPs on the electroactive properties of EABs and even functional microorganisms in aquatic ecosystems.
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