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Toward a better understanding of microalgal photosynthesis in medium polluted with microplastics: a study of the radiative properties of microplastic particles
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This study measured how microplastic particles from two common polymers — polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) — interact with light, finding that both scatter light strongly rather than absorbing it. This matters because microplastics floating in waterways can shade out microalgae by blocking light needed for photosynthesis, potentially disrupting aquatic food webs at their base.
Due to the wide presence of microplastics in water, the interaction between microplastic particles and microalgae cells in medium merits the attention of researchers. Microplastic particles can impact the original transmission of light radiation in water bodies since the refractive index of microplastics is different from that of water bodies. Accordingly, the accumulation of microplastics in water bodies will certainly impact microalgal photosynthesis. Therefore, experimental measurements and theoretical studies characterizing the radiative properties of the interaction between light and microplastic particles are highly significant. The extinction and absorption coefficient/cross-section of polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene were experimentally measured using transmission and integrating methods in the spectral range of 200-1,100 nm. The absorption cross-section of PET shows remarkable absorption peaks in the vicinity of 326 nm, 700 nm, 711 nm, 767 nm, 823 nm, 913 nm, and 1,046 nm. The absorption cross-section of PP has distinctive absorption peaks near 334 nm, 703 nm, and 1,016 nm. The measured scattering albedo of the microplastic particles is above 0.7, indicating that both microplastics are scattering dominant media. Based on the results of this work, an in-depth understanding of the interaction between microalgal photosynthesis and microplastic particles in the medium will be obtained.
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Researchers measured the thermal radiative properties of polyamide-12 microplastic particles to understand how they affect light transmission in ocean water. The study found that PA12 particles absorb and scatter light in ways that reduce photosynthetic efficiency of marine organisms. Understanding the optical properties of different plastic types is important for predicting how microplastics affect marine primary productivity.
Interaction between polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastic and microalgae (Scenedesmus spp.): Effect on the growth, chlorophyll content, and hetero-aggregation
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Researchers exposed two types of freshwater microalgae to PET microplastics at various concentrations, finding that higher levels significantly stunted growth, reduced chlorophyll, and caused the algae to cluster around the plastic particles. This "hetero-aggregation" behavior suggests microplastics can physically trap microalgae, potentially disrupting aquatic food webs that depend on algae as a foundation.
Impact of weathered and virgin polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro- and nanoplastics on growth dynamics and the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of microalgae
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Researchers compared how fresh and sun-weathered PET micro and nanoplastics affect microalgae growth and the sticky substances (EPS) algae produce in response to stress. Weathered plastics triggered more EPS production and had greater effects on algae than fresh plastics did. Since algae form the base of aquatic food chains and most ocean microplastics have been weathered by sunlight, these findings suggest real-world impacts on marine ecosystems may be worse than laboratory studies with fresh plastics indicate.
Theoretical study on the impact of microplastics in seawater on water-leaving reflectance using Monte Carlo simulations.
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Scientists used computer simulations to show that microplastics in ocean water change how light bounces off the surface, with different plastic types (like polystyrene or PETG) affecting reflected light in distinct ways. This matters because it could help researchers use satellite imagery to detect and track microplastic pollution in oceans remotely, making it easier to monitor how much of this pollution, which can enter the food chain and eventually our bodies, is out there.
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