We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Characterization of Microplastics and Mesoplastics and Presence of Biofilms, Collected in the Gualí Wetland Cundinamarca, Colombia
Summary
Researchers collected plastic debris from a Colombian wetland and found both mesoplastics and microplastics made of polymers including polyethylene and polypropylene, with biofilms of potentially pathogenic microorganisms colonising their surfaces. The plastisphere — the microbial community on plastic surfaces — poses a dual hazard: the plastic particles themselves stress aquatic organisms, while the biofilms can serve as vectors for harmful bacteria in freshwater ecosystems.
Wetlands are being contaminated by housing developments, effluents, industrial areas, and poor sanitation, resulting in the presence of plastic polymers and the development of biofilms on these materials, which represent an elevated risk to freshwater fauna and flora. The objective of this study was to characterize mesoplastics and microplastics, collected in the Gualí Wetland, Colombia, as well as to verify the presence of biofilms on such polymers. Nine water samples (36 L per sample) were evaluated at three points of the wetland; the size of the particles was determined by image analysis, the type of polymer through FTIR, and the presence of biofilms by microscopy. A total of 79 items/0.135 m3 were collected, 2 macroplastic items, 53 mesoplastic items, and 24 microplastic items. The presence of fragments (70%) and pellets (41%), with transparent (40%) and white (30%) being the predominant ones, was outstanding. Among the polymers, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) dominated, followed by expanded polystyrene. The results of SEM demonstrated the presence of diatoms on the surface of the plastic polymers. Furthermore, the results showed a greater amount of HDPE mesoplastics and microplastics in the shape of fragments and pellets. In addition, the presence of biofilms on these plastic particles can increase the adsorption of contaminants, negatively affecting this ecosystem. The outcome of this study can be used to identify bacteria that reside in biofilms associated with microplastics and mesoplastics.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics of surface waters of Colombian Caribbean
Researchers collected and characterized microplastics from the surface waters of two Colombian Caribbean sectors influenced by major rivers, sampling across dry and rainy seasons and also analyzing the microbial communities living on the plastic surfaces. The study provides baseline pollution data for a region where microplastic research has been minimal, while the metagenomic analysis of plastisphere microbes adds ecological context. Understanding which microbes colonize plastic in tropical Caribbean waters is relevant to assessing whether those particles serve as vectors for harmful or antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Microplastic biofilm in fresh- and wastewater as a function of microparticle type and size class
Researchers compared the biofilm communities that form on microplastics of different types and sizes in both freshwater and wastewater, finding that biofilm composition was influenced by particle type, size, and water source. These findings advance understanding of the plastisphere — the microbial community unique to plastic surfaces — and its potential role in spreading microorganism-associated risks.
Dynamics and implications of biofilm formation and community succession on floating marine plastic debris
Researchers examined how biofilms form on plastic debris in aquatic environments and how the resulting microbial communities evolve over time, finding that the plastisphere hosts distinct microbial assemblages including potential pathogens. The study has implications for understanding plastic debris as a vector for microbial dispersal.
Microplastics of surface waters of Colombian Caribbean
This is a duplicate entry for the Colombian Caribbean surface water microplastics study (same as ID 1858), covering microplastic characterization and plastisphere microbial communities in two river-influenced Caribbean sectors during dry and rainy seasons. Duplicate entry; the study provides important baseline contamination data and microbial ecology context for a poorly studied tropical region.
Distinct microbial communities in the microplastisphere of inland wetlands: Diversity, composition, co-occurrence networks, and functions.
Researchers collected samples from different inland wetland types to characterize the microbial communities colonizing plastic surfaces (the microplastisphere), finding distinct bacterial and fungal communities compared to surrounding soils. Community composition varied by wetland type and plastic surface, highlighting the ecological diversity of plastic-associated microbiomes in freshwater habitats.