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Low Temperature Polyethylene Biodeterioration by Freshwater Microplastics-Associated Bacteria
Summary
Fourteen bacterial strains isolated from a boreal lake and glacier-fed river were tested for their ability to biodegrade low-density polyethylene at cold temperatures, with several strains removing up to 25% of LDPE mass, suggesting cold-adapted freshwater bacteria have biodegradation potential.
Abstract Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants that threaten ecosystems and human health. These particles host microbial biofilms that may include plastic-degrading bacteria, yet inland freshwater systems remain understudied, particularly under cold, environmentally relevant conditions. Here, 14 bacterial strains were isolated from MPs collected from a boreal lake and a glacier-fed river and evaluated for their ability to degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at a low temperature. Several isolates removed up to 25% LDPE (w/w), formed biofilms, and caused surface deterioration. Chemical analyses detected alkanes, plastic additives, and oxidation products, indicating partial depolymerization of LDPE. Isolates’ genomes revealed few homologs of known plastic- or hydrocarbon-degradation genes, suggesting novel pathways. For the first time, Sanguibacter and Cryobacterium are identified as plastic-degrading bacteria. These findings show that freshwater MPs harbour cold-adapted bacteria capable of LDPE biodeterioration, advancing our understanding of the fate of microplastics and offering new biotechnological avenues for low-temperature plastic-waste mitigation.