We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of Biofouling on the Sinking Behavior of Microplastics in Aquatic Environments
Summary
Biofouling — the colonization of microplastic surfaces by microorganisms — significantly alters particle density, causing buoyant plastics to sink and subsequently resurface as biofilm is lost, driving complex vertical transport dynamics in aquatic environments. This cycling behavior disperses microplastics throughout the water column and into sediments where they can be ingested by benthic organisms, expanding the ecological footprint of plastic pollution well beyond the ocean surface.
Microplastics (MPs) feature a range of characteristics such as size, shape, polymer type and associated density, and additive composition, which shape their sinking behavior. In addition, a number of processes affect MPs when they enter aquatic environments, causing...