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Additives and biofilm formation on microplastics : insights from benzophenone-3 in polyethylene
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Researchers investigated how the UV-filter additive benzophenone-3 (BP-3) embedded in polyethylene microplastics affects biofilm formation and environmental aging in freshwater. BP-3-containing MPs developed different biofilm communities and aged differently compared to pristine MPs, demonstrating that additives significantly shape the environmental behavior of microplastics.
Plastic additives are increasingly recognized as active agents that influence the behaviour and fate of microplastics in aquatic environments. This study investigates how the UV-filter benzophenone-3 (BP-3) affects biofilm formation and environmental aging of polyethylene microplastics (MPs) in freshwater. Comparisons between pristine MPs and BP-3-containing MPs (MP/BP-3) revealed that the additive altered polymer surface properties, crystallinity, and density even prior to environmental exposure. Presence of BP-3 destabilized the polymer matrix and promoted surface transformation during aging, while simultaneously suppressed biofilm growth, particularly of phototrophic microorganisms, and reduced extracellular polymeric substances and chlorophyll a content. Microbial community analyses showed a shift from cyanobacteria-dominated assemblages to heterotrophic, stress-tolerant taxa, accompanied by an enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes. Although microorganisms on MP and MP/BP-3 exhibited comparable genetic potentials for plastic degradation, the observed changes highlight a trade-off: BP-3 enhanced abiotic degradation while simultaneously inhibiting biotic degradation. Overall, BP-3 acts as an active agent that reshapes both the physical stability of microplastics and the structure and function of their associated microbial communities, with potential implications for aquatic ecosystem health.
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