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Biofilm formation strongly influences the vector transport of triclosan-loaded polyethylene microplastics
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Researchers found that biofilm formation on polyethylene microplastics strongly influences their role as vectors for triclosan transport, with biofouled microplastics showing altered pollutant sorption capacity and different toxicity effects on Daphnia magna.
This study aimed at evaluating the influence of biofilm in the role of microplastics (MPs) as vectors of pollutants and their impact on Daphnia magna. To do this, virgin polyethylene MPs, (PE-MPs, 40-48 μm) were exposed for four weeks to wastewater (WW) from influent and effluent to promote biofouling. Then, the exposed PE-MPs were put in contact with triclosan. Finally, the toxicity of TCS-loaded and non-TCS loaded PE-MPs were tested on the survival of D. magna adults for 21 days. Results from metabarcoding analyses indicated that exposure to TCS induced shifts in the bacterial community, selecting potential TCS-degrading bacteria. Results also showed that PE-MPs were ingested by daphnids. The most toxic virgin PE-MPs were those biofouled in the WW effluent. The toxicity of TCS-loaded PE-MPs biofouled in the WW effluent was even higher, reporting mortality in all tested concentrations. These results indicate that biofouling of MPs may modulate the adsorption and subsequent desorption of co-occurring pollutants, hence affecting their potential toxicity towards aquatic organisms. Future studies on realistic environmental plastic impact should include the characterization of biofilms growing on plastic. Since inevitably plastic biofouling occurs over time in nature, it should be taken into account as it may modulate the sorption of co-occurring pollutants.
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Researchers evaluated polyethylene microplastics as vectors of triclosan (TCS) in Daphnia magna survival experiments, examining how biofilm formation on microplastic surfaces — simulating conditions downstream of wastewater treatment plants — modifies the adsorption and desorption of triclosan and consequently its toxicity to the zooplankton.
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Researchers tested how triclosan—an antimicrobial compound—adsorbs to microplastics and what effect this has on microbial biofilm communities in freshwater. Triclosan-loaded microplastics shifted microbial community composition and increased abundance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in biofilms, demonstrating that microplastics acting as vectors for antimicrobials can restructure freshwater microbial ecosystems.
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