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The molecular transformation of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter regulates the bioavailability of conventional microplastic
npj Emerging Contaminants
2026
Zhimin Liu,
Weijun Wang,
Dengke Liu,
Hailing He,
Erwen Wang,
Hao Wan,
Xiaolu Liu
Summary
Researchers discovered that dissolved organic matter released from biodegrading polyethylene microplastics (MP-DOM) creates a self-inhibitory feedback loop — as aromatic compounds in MP-DOM are broken down by plastisphere bacteria, key PE-degrading microbes decline, significantly slowing further plastic degradation over time.