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Promotion of DNA Adsorption onto Microplastics by Transition Metal Ions
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Researchers found that transition metal ions such as copper, zinc, and iron significantly promote the adsorption of DNA onto microplastic surfaces, raising concerns about microplastics serving as vectors for genetic material in contaminated waterways.
Microplastics can adsorb and spread a variety of pollutants in the ecosystem posing a threat to human health. One of the common pollution sources of environmental waters is metal ions, which not only adsorb on microplastics but can also promote the adsorption of other invasive species such as environmental DNA. Recently, we showed that environmentally abundant metal ions (Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) can promote the adsorption of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) onto microplastics. Herein, we investigated the effect of transition metal ions including Zn2+ and Mn2+ and compared them with Mg2+ for promoting DNA adsorption. To better mimic environmental DNA, we also used a salmon sperm double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) (~2000 bp). For both ssDNA and dsDNA, the transition metals induced a higher adsorption capacity compared to Mg2+, and that correlated with the higher binding affinity of transition metals to DNA. Although metal-mediated interactions were vital for ssDNA adsorption, the dsDNA adsorbed on the microplastics even in the absence of metal ions, likely due to the abundance of binding sites of the 100-times longer dsDNA. Finally, desorption studies revealed that hydrophobic interactions were responsible for dsDNA adsorption in the absence of metal ions.
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eDNA Adsorption onto Microplastics: Impacts of Water Chemistry and Polymer Physiochemical Properties
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Researchers studied how environmental DNA, genetic material shed by organisms, attaches to different types of microplastics under varying water conditions. They found that DNA adsorption depends on the type of plastic polymer, water chemistry factors like pH and salt concentration, and the presence of natural organic matter. The findings suggest that microplastics could serve as carriers of genetic material in the environment, with implications for tracking both pollution sources and the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.
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Researchers investigated how three common types of microplastics absorb iron and copper nanoparticles from water. They found that all three plastics could adsorb significant amounts of metal nanoparticles on their surfaces through physical attachment, with maximum absorption occurring under alkaline conditions. The findings highlight how microplastics can serve as carriers of metal pollutants in aquatic environments, potentially increasing their spread and ecological impact.
Adsorption and Desorption Behavior of Microplastics on Copper Ions in Aqueous Solution
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This study investigated how microplastics of different types and surface chemistry adsorb and release copper ions in water. The findings show that microplastics can pick up and later release heavy metals depending on environmental conditions, acting as vectors that transport toxic metals through aquatic ecosystems.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.