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Microplastics In The Environment Help Spread Antibiotic Resistance And Change Microbial Interactions

Science Trends 2018
María Arias-Andrés, Hans‐Peter Grossart

Summary

Microplastics in soil and aquatic environments serve as selective surfaces where antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes accumulate at higher concentrations than in surrounding water, accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance through ecosystems. This interaction between plastic pollution and antimicrobial resistance represents a compounding public health threat, as microplastics could help propagate resistant pathogens into drinking water and food supplies.

Plastics are low-cost, durable, and versatile materials used in the manufacture of many things we use for daily life, e.g., entertainment, packaging, hygiene, and even the clothes we wear. However, the universal and frequent use of plastic articles is the reason why the magnitude of recent plastic pollution in the environment has reached enormous dimensions.

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