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Colonisation of plastic pellets (nurdles) by E. coli at public bathing beaches
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Researchers mapped the distribution of plastic resin pellets (nurdles) at five public bathing beaches and found that all sites harbored pellets colonized by E. coli and Vibrio bacteria, suggesting that the plastisphere — the biofilm community on plastic surfaces — could serve as a dispersal vector for pathogenic and fecal indicator organisms in coastal environments.
The hard surface of waterborne plastic provides an ideal environment for the formation of biofilm by opportunistic microbial colonisers, and could facilitate a novel means of dispersal for microorganisms across coastal and marine environments. Biofilms that colonise the so-called 'plastisphere' could also be a reservoir for faecal indicator organisms (FIOs), such as Escherichia coli, or pathogenic bacteria such as species of Vibrio. Therefore, the aim of this study was to map the spatial distribution of beach-cast plastic resin pellets (nurdles) at five public bathing beaches, and quantify their colonisation by E. coli and Vibrio spp. Nurdles were heterogeneously distributed along the high tide mark at all five beaches, and each beach contained nurdles that were colonised by E. coli and Vibrio spp. Knowledge of E. coli colonisation and persistence on nurdles should now be used to inform coastal managers about the additional risks associated with plastic debris.
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Microbial hitchhikers on marine plastic debris: Human exposure risks at bathing waters and beach environments.
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This review examines how marine plastic debris serves as a habitat for microbial communities including potential pathogens, a phenomenon called the Plastisphere, and assesses the human health risks when plastic-associated microbes reach bathing waters and beaches. The authors conclude that plastic litter can amplify microbial hazards to public health in coastal recreation areas.
Exploring plastic biofilm formation and Escherichia coli colonisation in marine environments
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This study investigated E. coli colonization of plastic pellets from a polluted beach in seawater aquaria, finding that diverse bacterial communities rapidly formed biofilms within 24 hours. E. coli persisted for up to 7 days on the plastic surfaces, demonstrating that plastic debris can serve as a reservoir and transport vector for fecal pathogens in marine environments.
Bacterial colonization of microplastics in beaches of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)
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Researchers analyzed microplastics collected from six beaches on Tenerife, Canary Islands, for fecal indicator organisms and Vibrio spp., finding E. coli in 57% of plastic fragments and 29% of pellets, with intestinal enterococci detected in 86% of fragments and 57% of pellets. All fragments tested positive for Vibrio spp., highlighting microplastics as vectors for potentially pathogenic bacteria and a bathing water quality concern not captured by current EU monitoring frameworks.
Plastisphere assemblages differ from the surrounding bacterial communities in transitional coastal environments
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Researchers found that bacterial communities colonizing plastic particles (the plastisphere) in Portuguese estuarine and beach environments were significantly different from those in surrounding water and sediments, with plastic type and environmental conditions influencing microbial community composition.
Survival of human pathogens bound to microplastics during transfer through the freshwater-marine continuum: from wastewater discharge to the beach
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Researchers tracked survival of E. coli, E. faecalis, and P. aeruginosa colonizing polyethylene microplastics as particles were transferred through a series of mesocosms simulating downstream transport from wastewater effluent through freshwater, estuary, seawater, and beach sand. All three pathogens survived the full environmental transition sequence in the plastisphere, with higher bacterial concentrations on microplastics than on glass controls, though die-off rates did not differ by substrate, demonstrating microplastics' potential to extend pathogen persistence across environmental boundaries.
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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.