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Effect of different size microplastic particles on the construction of algal-bacterial biofilms and microbial communities
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Researchers tested how microplastic particles of different sizes affect algal-bacterial biofilms used for sewage treatment. Smaller nanoplastics caused more damage to the biofilm community, reducing algal growth and shifting microbial diversity, while larger microplastics had milder effects. This matters because algal-bacterial systems are a green technology for water treatment, and microplastic contamination could undermine their effectiveness.
Algal-bacterial symbiotic system is a biological purification system that combines sewage treatment with resource utilization and has the dual effects of carbon sequestration and pollution reduction. In this study, an immobilized algal-bacterial biofilm system was constructed for the treatment of natural sewage. Effects of exposure to microplastics (MPs) with different particle diameters (0.065 μm, 0.5 μm and 5 μm) were determined in terms of algal biomass recovery efficiency, the composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and morphologic characteristics. The impacts of MPs on the bacterial diversity and community structure of biofilms were also examined. The metagenomic analysis of key microorganisms and related metabolism pathways involved in system was further investigated. Results showed that following exposure to 5 μm MP, a maximum algal recovery efficiency of 80% was achieved, with a minimum PSII primary light energy conversion efficiency (F/F ratio) of 0.513. Furthermore, 5 μm MP caused the highest level of damage to the algal-bacterial biofilm, enhancing the secretion of protein-rich EPS. The biofilm morphology became rough and loose following exposure to 0.5 μm and 5 μm MP. Community diversity and richness were significantly high in biofilms exposed to 5 μm MP. Proteobacteria (15.3-24.1%), Firmicutes (5.0-7.8%) and Actinobacteria (4.2-4.9%) were dominant in all groups, with exposure to 5 μm MP resulting in the highest relative abundance for these species. The addition of MPs promoted the related metabolic functions while inhibited the degradation of harmful substances by algal-bacterial biofilms. The findings have environmental significance for the practical application of algal-bacterial biofilms for sewage treatment, providing novel insights into the potential effects of MPs on immobilized algal-bacterial biofilm systems.
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles in wastewater can mess with the natural cleanup crew (algae and bacteria) that treats our water, and smaller plastic bits actually cause more damage than bigger ones, harming the microbes and leaving more waste behind. This matters because it suggests wastewater treatment plants may struggle to fully filter out microplastics, meaning more of these tiny particles could end up back in our environment and water supply than we'd like.
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Researchers examined how environmental microplastic exposure affects the formation of algae biofilms and their interaction with nitric oxide signaling. They found that microplastics disrupted biofilm development and altered the way algae cells communicate through chemical signals. The study suggests that microplastic pollution could impair the natural ability of algae to form protective communities used in wastewater treatment applications.
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Researchers found that nano- and microplastics reduce the nitrogen cycling capacity of microbial flocs used in aquaculture, with smaller nanoplastics causing greater disruption than larger microplastics in a size-dependent toxicity pattern.
Bacterial community are more susceptible to nanoplastics than algae community in aquatic ecosystems dominated by submerged macrophytes
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Researchers conducted a mesocosm experiment to test how nanoplastics affect bacterial and algal communities in aquatic ecosystems with submerged plants. They found that bacterial communities were significantly more sensitive to nanoplastic exposure than algal communities, with notable shifts in bacterial composition and function. The study reveals that different groups of microorganisms in natural water environments respond very differently to nanoplastic contamination.
Different effects of nano- and microplastics on oxidative status and gut microbiota in the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma
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Researchers compared the effects of nanoplastics and microplastics on oxidative stress and gut microbiota in marine medaka fish. They found that nanoplastics caused more severe oxidative damage and greater disruption to the gut microbial community than larger microplastic particles. The study suggests that particle size plays a critical role in determining the biological impact of plastic pollution on aquatic organisms.
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