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Effects of microplastics on greenhouse gas emissions and microbial communities in sediment of freshwater systems
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Researchers found that PET microplastics of different sizes significantly affected greenhouse gas emissions and microbial communities in freshwater sediments, with smaller particles (5 micrometers) notably increasing methane emissions and altering nutrient cycling over 90 days.
Microplastics can regulate greenhouse gas emissions from environmental systems and affect microbes in the environment. However, the effect of microplastics in freshwater sediment system is still not well studied. In this paper, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles with six different diameters of 5-2000 µm were added to freshwater sediment, PET exposing for 90 days was carried out and its effect on greenhouse gas emissions, nutrients cycle and microbial communities were studied. In the 5 µm experimental group, carbon dioxide (CO) emissions were significantly promoted in the 7-30 days and nitrogen monoxide (NO) emissions were significantly promoted in the 7 days after cultivation. Microplastics in the range of 300-800 µm significantly promoted CO emissions after three days of culture. In addition, microplastics increased the total organic carbon (TOC) content in freshwater sediment and changed microbial diversity, especially increased the microorganisms capable of degrading complex organics such as Saprospiraceae. There was a positive correlation between NO emission and nitrate (NO) content in sediment after 3 days of culture, while greenhouse gas emission was mainly related to TOC content after 90 days of culture. These results showed that microplastics could affect the carbon and nitrogen cycling process of shallow lake ecosystem.
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A Study of the Effects of Microplastics on Microbial Communities in Marine Sediments
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This study investigated how the presence of microplastics in marine sediments affects microbial communities and, specifically, the methane cycle, finding that microplastics significantly altered microbial community structure and function. Since marine sediment microbes play a critical role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions, microplastic contamination could have broader climate-relevant effects beyond direct toxicity.
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Impact of Microplastic on Freshwater Sediment Biogeochemistry and Microbial Communities Is Polymer Specific
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Researchers used a microcosm approach to test how three common plastic types found in Great Lakes sediments affect freshwater benthic biogeochemistry and microbial communities. They found that each polymer had distinct effects: PET fibers decreased ecosystem metabolism, PVC particles increased nutrient uptake, and tire-derived rubber most substantially altered microbial community function. The study highlights that the environmental impact of microplastics in freshwater sediments depends heavily on the specific polymer type involved.
Unveiling the effects of two distinct microplastics on the sediment microbial community and greenhouse gas emissions: a case study of the Nu River
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A study of the Nu River found that both conventional PVC and biodegradable PLA microplastics altered sediment microbial communities and disrupted greenhouse gas cycling, with PVC more severely reducing bacterial diversity and both types suppressing methane production. The finding that so-called biodegradable plastics still meaningfully disrupt river ecosystems challenges assumptions about their environmental safety.
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