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Traditional and biodegradable plastics host distinct and potentially more hazardous microbes when compared to both natural materials and planktonic community

Journal of Hazardous Materials 2023 20 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Silvia Galafassi, Gianluca Corno, Andrea Di Cesare, Silvia Galafassi, Silvia Galafassi, Silvia Galafassi, Silvia Galafassi, Silvia Galafassi, Raffaella Sabatino, Raffaella Sabatino, Silvia Galafassi, Silvia Galafassi, Raffaella Sabatino, Raffaella Sabatino, Raffaella Sabatino, Raffaella Sabatino, Raffaella Sabatino, Silvia Galafassi, Silvia Galafassi, Pietro Volta Rosa Zullo, Rosa Zullo, Rosa Zullo, Rosa Zullo, Andrea Di Cesare, Andrea Di Cesare, Pietro Volta Silvia Galafassi, Pietro Volta Silvia Galafassi, Silvia Galafassi, Silvia Galafassi, Andrea Di Cesare, Andrea Di Cesare, Andrea Di Cesare, Andrea Di Cesare, Pietro Volta Andrea Di Cesare, Rosa Zullo, Gianluca Corno, Rosa Zullo, Roberta Piscia, Silvia Galafassi, Silvia Galafassi, Raffaella Sabatino, Raffaella Sabatino, Raffaella Sabatino, Andrea Di Cesare, Andrea Di Cesare, Roberta Piscia, Roberta Piscia, Roberta Piscia, Simona Musazzi, Raffaella Sabatino, Pietro Volta Pietro Volta Andrea Di Cesare, Simona Musazzi, Simona Musazzi, Simona Musazzi, Simona Musazzi, Raffaella Sabatino, Silvia Galafassi, Pietro Volta Gianluca Corno, Gianluca Corno, Pietro Volta Gianluca Corno, Gianluca Corno, Gianluca Corno, Pietro Volta Pietro Volta Pietro Volta Silvia Galafassi, Rosa Zullo, Silvia Galafassi, Gianluca Corno, Rosa Zullo, Pietro Volta Pietro Volta Andrea Di Cesare, Gianluca Corno, Pietro Volta Silvia Galafassi, Silvia Galafassi, Pietro Volta

Summary

Researchers compared the bacterial communities that colonize traditional plastics, biodegradable plastics, and natural materials like wood and glass in freshwater environments. They found that both conventional and biodegradable plastics hosted distinct and potentially more hazardous microbial communities than natural materials. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily safer from a microbial perspective and may still serve as platforms for harmful bacteria in the environment.

Polymers

PE PET PP

Microplastic particles are persistent micropollutants that provide a substrate for the growth of bacterial biofilms, posing a threat to the environment. This study explores the changes in commercially available food containers made of conventional (polypropylene PP, polyethylene terephthalate PET), innovative biodegradable (Mater-Bi) and natural (wood and cellulose) materials, when introduced in the surface waters of Lake Maggiore for 43 days. Spectral changes revealed by FT-IR spectroscopy in PET and Mater-Bi, and changes in thermal properties of all human-made material tested indicated a degradation process occurred during environmental exposure. Despite similar bacterial richness, biofilms on PET, PP, and Mater-Bi differed from natural material biofilms and the planktonic community. Human-made material communities showed a higher proportion of potential pathogens, with PET and PP also exhibiting increased abundances of antibiotic resistance genes. Overall, these findings stress the need for dedicated strategies to curb the spread of human-made polymers in freshwaters, including innovative materials that, due to their biodegradable properties, might be perceived less hazardous for the environment.

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