Biofilms Enhance the Adsorption of Toxic Contaminants on Plastic Microfibers under Environmentally Relevant Conditions
Environmental Science & Technology2021
248 citations
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Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Palanisami Thavamani
Kala Senathirajah,
Palanisami Thavamani
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Palanisami Thavamani
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Thi Kim Anh Tran,
Geetika Bhagwat,
Geetika Bhagwat,
Geetika Bhagwat,
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Geetika Bhagwat,
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Kala Senathirajah,
Wayne A. O’Connor,
Wayne A. O’Connor,
Wayne A. O’Connor,
Wayne A. O’Connor,
Geetika Bhagwat,
Geetika Bhagwat,
Geetika Bhagwat,
Thi Kim Anh Tran,
Thi Kim Anh Tran,
Thi Kim Anh Tran,
Ian Grainge,
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Albert L. Juhasz,
Palanisami Thavamani
Albert L. Juhasz,
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Geetika Bhagwat,
Geetika Bhagwat,
Geetika Bhagwat,
Wayne A. O’Connor,
Wayne A. O’Connor,
Wayne A. O’Connor,
Dane Lamb,
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Wayne A. O’Connor,
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Kala Senathirajah,
Geetika Bhagwat,
Geetika Bhagwat,
Albert L. Juhasz,
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Ian Grainge,
Ian Grainge,
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Albert L. Juhasz,
Palanisami Thavamani
Wayne A. O’Connor,
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Albert L. Juhasz,
Palanisami Thavamani
Albert L. Juhasz,
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Palanisami Thavamani
Dane Lamb,
Albert L. Juhasz,
Albert L. Juhasz,
Palanisami Thavamani
Summary
Researchers grew natural biofilms on plastic microfibers under realistic environmental conditions and measured changes in adsorption of two toxic contaminants, finding that biofilm formation substantially increased the fibers' capacity to bind pollutants, amplifying their potential as chemical vectors.
Microplastics (MPs) exposed to the natural environment provide an ideal surface for biofilm formation, which potentially acts as a reactive phase facilitating the sorption of hazardous contaminants. Until now, changes in the contaminant sorption capacity of MPs due to biofilm formation have not been quantified. This is the first study that compared the capacity of naturally aged, biofilm-covered microplastic fibers (BMFs) to adsorb perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and lead (Pb) at environmentally relevant concentrations. Changes in the surface properties and morphology of aged microplastic fibers (MF) were studied by surface area analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Results revealed that aged MFs exhibited higher surface areas because of biomass accumulation compared to virgin samples and followed the order polypropylene>polyethylene>nylon>polyester. The concentrations of adsorbed Pb and PFOS were 4-25% and 20-85% higher in aged MFs and varied among the polymer types. The increased contaminant adsorption was linked with the altered surface area and the hydrophobic/hydrophilic characteristics of the samples. Overall, the present study demonstrates that biofilms play a decisive role in contaminant-plastic interactions and significantly enhance the vector potential of MFs for toxic environmental contaminants. We anticipate that knowledge generated from this study will help refine the planetary risk assessment of MPs.