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Biofilm-associated microplastic contamination in rural soil and water: emerging hazards to ecosystems
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Researchers found significant microplastic contamination in soil and water near rural dumpsites in areas with poor waste management, with polystyrene and PET being the most common plastic types. The microplastic surfaces were colonized by bacteria that showed resistance to the antibiotic streptomycin, highlighting a dual threat of chemical pollution and drug resistance. These findings show that unregulated rural waste disposal creates hotspots where microplastics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria can enter local water supplies.
Lack of regulation on disposal of plastic materials in rural areas has led to constant infiltration of microplastics (MPs) into soil and water cycle, threatening ecological stability. This paper examines micro plastics contamination within rural dumpsites and surrounding water bodies through an amalgamation of FTIR spectroscopy, microbial examination, as well as antibiotic resistance testing. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were the dominant polymers detected, with PET and PS comprising 56.43 % and 29.46 % of soil MPs, while PS alone contributed 51.36 % in water samples. FTIR spectra showed oxidized functional group, hence, accorded high degradation of the polymer when subjected to environmental exposure. In microbial examination, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacillus were found to be colonizing the MP surfaces and the observation highlighted high resistance toward streptomycin in disk diffusion analysis. Conversely, imipenem and sulfisomidine had good bacterial inhibitory effect whereby the zones of inhibition were greater than 1200 μm. This indicated that they retained their activities. These discoveries indicate the twofold threat of pollution with chemicals and the rise of antimicrobial resistance caused by the collection of microplastic in the rural ecosystems with low regulatory capacities. The results imply that the enhanced strategy on waste management and environmental monitoring in the given setting is vital. The work is effectively linked to the Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), and SDG 15 (life on land); this effort will enhance the One Health approach and its comprehensive form.
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Microplastics in fresh- and wastewater are potential contributors to antibiotic resistance - A minireview
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Researchers reviewed the link between microplastic pollution and the spread of antibiotic resistance in freshwater environments, finding that microplastic surfaces host unique bacterial communities enriched in antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the resistance genes they can share with other microbes. The close packing of bacteria in these plastic-surface biofilms may accelerate the spread of drug-resistant pathogens through drinking water sources, though the full health implications remain poorly understood.
Biofilm-associated microbial communities on microplastics in rural and urban aquatic environments of Tamil Nadu, India: Functional characterization and antibiotic resistance
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Tiny plastic bits floating in rivers and coastal waters near cities aren't just pollution—they're becoming floating homes for bacteria, and researchers found these bacterial communities are more abundant and active in urban waterways than rural ones. Concerningly, many of these microplastic-dwelling bacteria showed resistance to common antibiotics like ampicillin and erythromycin, especially in urban areas, meaning plastic pollution may be helping germs become harder to treat as it travels through waterways where fish and humans have contact.
Microplastic and POP contamination in rural waste-dumping sites, India
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Researchers collected soil and water samples from unregulated waste-dumping sites in rural Tamil Nadu, India, finding microplastics in all samples, with polypropylene and polyethylene as the dominant polymers, raising concerns about contamination of drinking water and agricultural land.
Susceptibility of a peri-urban water supply and sanitation system to selected emerging micropollutants
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Researchers tested seven peri-urban water quality monitoring sites for emerging micropollutants including microplastics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, finding that while microplastics were absent from raw and treated tap water, they were present in raw sewage, raising environmental concerns about wastewater system discharges.
Insights into PET-Microplastics effect on pathogenic bacteria
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Researchers exposed four common disease-causing bacteria to PET microplastics and found that the bacteria responded differently depending on the species and plastic concentration, with some growing faster in the presence of plastics. Notably, bacteria exposed to higher concentrations of PET microplastics developed increased resistance to multiple antibiotics, raising concerns about how environmental plastic pollution could contribute to the growing antibiotic resistance problem.
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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.