We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of biofilm colonization on the sinking of microplastics in three freshwater environments
AI summary Read the abstract
A 44-day freshwater incubation experiment showed that biofilm colonization on PET, PP, and PVC microplastics promoted sinking in three Chinese water bodies, with biomass and chlorophyll levels varying by environment and influencing the rate of buoyancy change.
Microplastics (MPs) have frequently been detected in freshwater environments, and there is growing concern about their ecological effects, especially the influence of the "plastisphere" on the freshwater ecosystems. The colonization of microbes on MPs would significantly alter their transport behavior, i.e., buoyancy, in fresh water. In this research, we studied the effects of biofilm colonization on the sinking and floating of three MPs, i.e., polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), after 44 days of incubation in three freshwater systems (the Niushoushan River, the Qinhuai River, and East Lake) in China. The results showed that the biofilms attached to the three MPs contained different biomass and chlorophyll-a levels were related to water environmental conditions and physicochemical properties of MPs, based on redundancy analysis. Generally, PET and PVC sinking, with density higher than water, tended to increase after biofilm formation. Thereafter, the settling velocity of biofouled PET and PVC squares became faster than that of the virgin ones. In summary, our study suggested that biofouling does affect the sinking of MPs in fresh water and consequently influences the transport behavior and the distribution characteristics of MPs in freshwater environments, and this issue deserves more scientific attention.
More Papers Like This
Biofilm-induced sinking of buoyant microplastics in a freshwater environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers demonstrated experimentally that biofilm growth on buoyant microplastic particles caused them to sink from the surface of a freshwater lake and accumulate in sediments. The experiment directly confirmed the biofouling-induced sinking mechanism as a key process controlling the vertical distribution of microplastics in lake water columns.
Microplastic-specific biofilm growth determines the vertical transport of plastics in freshwater
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied biofilm growth on five different microplastic polymer types in freshwater over 63 days to understand how biological colonization affects sinking behavior. The study found that biofilm growth is polymer-specific and can significantly alter the density of microplastic particles, which in turn determines whether they sink or float, influencing their vertical transport through freshwater systems.
Biofilm growth on buoyant microplastics leads to changes in settling rates: Implications for microplastic retention in the Great Lakes
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured biofilm-induced density changes and sinking rates for buoyant polyethylene microplastics in Great Lakes water, finding that biofouling caused particles to sink within days to weeks, with implications for predicting where microplastics accumulate in large lake systems.
Sinking of microbial-associated microplastics in natural waters
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how microbial biofilm colonization of microplastics affects their buoyancy and sinking behavior in natural waters, finding that biological ballasting from attached microorganisms can significantly increase particle density and promote vertical transport toward sediments. The results suggest that biofouling is a key mechanism driving the removal of microplastics from surface waters.
The role of biofouling and microbial colonization in shaping macroplastic fate in freshwaters
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers ran a 12-week mesocosm experiment showing that biofouling by algae-dominated biofilms drives most tested plastics to sink in freshwater, with surface roughness governing colonization density and water quality — rather than polymer type — shaping the resulting microbial community.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.