Freeze–thaw cycles restructure PET microplastics in sediments into new habitat of microbial carbon metabolism

Impact of Microplastics on Microbial Communities in Polar Environments

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This review examined plastic pollution in polar Arctic and Antarctic environments, documenting microplastic contamination in some of Earth's most remote and climatically sensitive ecosystems. Because polar regions act as both sinks for globally transported microplastics and amplifiers of climate-related degradation, contamination there signals systemic environmental spread with implications for polar food webs and the organisms—including humans—that depend on them.

Effects of plastispheres and pristine microplastics on sediment microbial communities and nitrogen cycling under global warming

Microbial Degradation of Microplastics

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Researchers reviewed microbial degradation mechanisms for microplastics, identifying bacterial and fungal species capable of colonizing plastic surfaces and breaking down polymer chains through enzymatic activity, though noting that degradation rates under environmental conditions remain too slow to address current pollution levels.

Microbial Degradation of Microplastics

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Microbial communities capable of colonizing and partially degrading plastic surfaces have been identified across global environments, raising the possibility of harnessing them for bioremediation of the plastic pollution crisis. However, current microbial degradation rates are far too slow to keep pace with plastic production, making engineered enhancement of these pathways a research priority.

Research Progress on Sources and EcologicalEffects of Microplastics in Sediments

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This review synthesizes research on the sources and ecological effects of microplastics in sediments, tracing transport pathways from terrestrial runoff through freshwater systems to marine sediment sinks and documenting impacts on benthic organisms and ecosystem function. Sediments serve as long-term reservoirs of microplastic pollution, making sediment ecology a critical lens for understanding cumulative environmental burden and food chain exposure risks posed by plastic debris.