Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Sign in to save

Microplastics in the atmosphere: Adsorb on leaves and their effects on the phyllosphere bacterial community

Journal of Hazardous Materials 2023 36 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Libo Xu, Libo Xu, Yi Huang Xinyi Bai, Libo Xu, Kang Li, Libo Xu, Libo Xu, Libo Xu, Libo Xu, Yi Huang Mengjun Zhang, Kang Li, Kang Li, Kang Li, Kang Li, Xinyi Bai, Xinyi Bai, Xinyi Bai, Xudong Tian, Mengjun Zhang, Kang Li, Mengjun Zhang, Mengjun Zhang, Xudong Tian, Xudong Tian, Kang Li, Libo Xu, Libo Xu, Libo Xu, Xinyi Bai, Libo Xu, Libo Xu, Libo Xu, Xinyi Bai, Xinyi Bai, Xinyi Bai, Xinyi Bai, Kang Li, Xinyi Bai, Xinyi Bai, Xinyi Bai, Mengjun Zhang, Mengjun Zhang, Kang Li, Kang Li, Guangbao Zhang, Libo Xu, Guangbao Zhang, Kang Li, Guangbao Zhang, Kang Li, Guangbao Zhang, Kang Li, Guangbao Zhang, Kang Li, Guangbao Zhang, Mengjun Zhang, Guangbao Zhang, Mengjun Zhang, Mengjun Zhang, Libo Xu, Xinyi Bai, Xudong Tian, Min Hu, Guangbao Zhang, Qian Tang, Guangbao Zhang, Mengjun Zhang, Mengjun Zhang, Mengjun Zhang, Mengjun Zhang, Mengjun Zhang, Kang Li, Guangbao Zhang, Yi Huang Yi Huang Yi Huang Kang Li, Yi Huang Xinyi Bai, Yi Huang Yi Huang Yi Huang Yi Huang Xudong Tian, Kang Li, Xinyi Bai, Yi Huang Mengjun Zhang, Mengjun Zhang, Mengjun Zhang, Qian Tang, Yi Huang Yi Huang Yi Huang Yi Huang Yi Huang Yi Huang Mengjun Zhang, Yi Huang Xudong Tian, Yi Huang Yi Huang Yi Huang Yi Huang Yi Huang Yi Huang Min Hu, Yi Huang Yi Huang Yi Huang

Summary

A field study found that plant leaves in urban areas collect an average of about 3.6 airborne microplastic particles per square centimeter, mostly smaller than 80 micrometers, including polyamide and polyethylene. The microplastics significantly changed the bacterial communities living on leaf surfaces, potentially increasing the presence of disease-related bacteria. This finding is concerning because bacteria on contaminated leaves could enter the food chain through vegetables and fruits, or become airborne and be inhaled by people.

Polymers

Phyllosphere is the largest interface between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems and serves as a major sink for atmospheric microplastics (MPs). It is also a unique habitat for microbiota with diverse ecological functions. This field study investigated the characteristics of atmospheric MPs adsorbed on leaves with automatic technology, and found their abundance was 3.62 ± 1.29 items cm. MPs on leaves were mainly below 80 µm, and dominated by polyamide, polyethene, and rubber. MPs on leaves correlated significantly with the structure and functions of the phyllosphere bacterial community (PBC). Both the MPs abundance and size distribution (MSD) were positively correlated with the α diversity and negatively correlated with the β diversity and network complexity of PBC. PBC functions of environmental and genetic information process were negatively correlated with MPs abundance, and functions related to human diseases and cellular process were positively correlated with MSD significantly. The relative abundance of Sphingomonas was significantly correlated with the MSD, suggesting that Sphingomonas might emerge as the key genus involved in the pathogenicity of PBC mediated by MPs. These results highlighted the ecological health risks of atmospheric MPs as they can be transferred anywhere and potentially increase the pathogenicity of local phyllosphere microflora.

Read via DOI PubMed

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email