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Environmental fate and biogeochemical impacts of microplastics on phosphorus cycling across aquatic interfaces
Summary
Tiny plastic particles in our lakes and rivers don't just pollute water, they're quietly messing with phosphorus, a nutrient that controls algae growth and water quality. This review of 38 studies found that microplastics change how phosphorus moves and cycles by altering bacteria communities and chemical reactions in water, which could worsen problems like harmful algae blooms that affect drinking water safety. The research is still early-stage (mostly lab experiments), but it's a reminder that plastic pollution's effects go beyond what we can see, reaching into the basic chemistry that keeps water ecosystems, and the water we dep
Microplastics (MPs) have gained increasing scientific attention for their complex and far-reaching impacts on aquatic ecosystems, particularly through their interactions with elemental biogeochemical cycles. As an essential nutrient, phosphorus (P) plays a pivotal role in sustaining biological productivity in aquatic environments, yet its transport and fate are substantially altered by the presence of MPs. This review synthesizes findings from 38 peer reviewed studies to elucidate how MPs influence P cycling at aquatic interfaces. MPs serve as dynamic participants in P cycling. They affect P dynamics through dose dependent effects, physical interference, and both direct and indirect biochemical pathways, with incompletely degraded MPs having more pronounced impacts. By altering habitat conditions and offering new surfaces for colonization, MPs reshape microbial communities and the expression of functional genes involved in P metabolism. Modifications in surface reactivity, ion exchange equilibrium, and redox processes further influence the migration and transformation of P. These interactions are largely governed by the physicochemical properties of MPs and ambient environmental conditions, with particle size and abundance identified as key determinants of total phosphorus in natural waters. Although laboratory experiments have yielded valuable mechanistic insights, they frequently fail to replicate in situ complexity, underscoring the need for more realistic, long-term studies. This review also highlights potential mitigation strategies, including biodegradable MPs, microbial remediation, and ecosystem-based engineering. By addressing a critical research gap, it emphasizes the importance of integrating MPs into nutrient cycling frameworks and aquatic ecosystem management.