We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microbial pollution on microplastic, beach sand and coastal sea water in Aydın-Kuşadası coasts in Turkey
AI summary Read the abstract
This study seasonally isolated and identified culturable bacteria from microplastic surfaces, beach sand, and coastal seawater at 10 stations in Turkey's Aydın-Kuşadası coast, finding 58 bacterial species from 27 genera including opportunistic pathogens such as Vibrio, Klebsiella, Escherichia, and Listeria. The study is the first seasonal examination of microbial contamination in microplastics, beach sand, and seawater in Turkey, showing that microplastics may threaten public health by harboring pathogenic bacteria.
Microplastics constitute a new ecological niche for microorganisms. The colonization of microplastics by pathogenic bacteria poses significant risks to both human and environmental health. In our study, we aimed to isolate and identify culturable bacteria from microplastic, beach sand and coastal seawater samples collected from 10 different stations in 4 different seasons in the Aydın-Kuşadası coastal areas and to determine the microbial load in the samples. To our knowledge, this is the first study to seasonally examine microbial contamination in microplastics, beach sand, and coastal seawater in Turkey, contributing with valuable data to global research. During, it is expected that the findings of this study will contribute to future research. In the study, a total of 120 bacteria were isolated and identified from microplastic surfaces, beach sand and coastal seawater. A total of 58 different bacterial species belonging to 27 different genera, including Staphylococcus , Pantoea , Micrococcus , Priestia , Stutzerimonas , Bacillus , Rhizobiu m, Exiguobacterium , Sphingomonas , Cronobacter , Pseudomonas , Alkalihalobacillus , Arthrobacter , Enterobacter , Brevibacterium , Shigella , Klebsiella , Vibrio , Aeromonas , Acinetobacter , Escherichia , Zobellella , Listeria , Kocuria , Kluyvera , Planococcus and Proteus , beach sand and coastal seawater samples. Bacterial loads of the samples were determined and compared seasonally. The highest bacterial counts were found in microplastics and beach sand in May. Furthermore, the highest bacterial counts in seawater were found in February and May. Interactions were also observed between bacterial groups cultured from microplastics, beach sand, and seawater. • In 10 different sampling stations (1: Güzelçamlı Beach, 2: Venus Beach 1, 3: Venus Beach 2, 4: Davutlar Youth Camp Beach, 5: Sevgi Beach, 6: Davutlar Beach, 7: Nazilli Site, 8: Kuşadası Central Public Beach, 9: Kadınlar Beach, 10: Long Beach) and 4 seasons, the highest number of bacteria as CFU/mL was found in UTIC Agar, R2A Agar and Zobell Marine Agar media on microplastic, beach sand and coastal sea water. • There were similarities found between bacteria cultured from beach sand and seawater and bacteria isolated from microplastics. • Bacteria have been observed using microplastics as a niche. • Microplastic pollution may threaten public health because microplastics harbor opportunistic pathogenic bacteria.
More Papers Like This
Beach wracks microbiome and its putative function in plastic polluted Mediterranean marine ecosystem
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined the microbial communities living on beach debris, including seagrass and plastic waste, along Mediterranean coastlines. Researchers found that while the bacterial communities on plastics were shaped more by beach conditions than by the type of plastic, these biofilms contained both plastic-degrading bacteria and potential human pathogens.
Bacterial colonisation dynamics of household plastics in a coastal environment
AI summary Read the abstract
This study tracked how quickly and what kinds of bacteria colonized common household plastics (including bottles, bags, and packaging) placed in a coastal estuary environment. Bacteria colonized all plastic types within days, and the communities that formed included potential human pathogens. Plastic-associated bacterial communities in coastal environments could pose public health risks through seafood contamination or contact with polluted water.
Microbial hitchhikers on marine plastic debris: Human exposure risks at bathing waters and beach environments.
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Changes in microplastic-associated bacterial communities along a salinity gradient in Central Anatolian lakes of Türkiye
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined bacterial communities growing on microplastic surfaces across 11 Turkish lakes spanning a wide range of salinity levels. They found that Pseudomonadaceae bacteria dominated the microplastic biofilms, and several salt-tolerant pathogenic species were detected on plastic surfaces even in highly saline lakes. The study highlights that microplastics can serve as vehicles for potentially harmful bacteria across diverse freshwater environments.
Microplastic contamination and microbial colonization in coastal area of Busan City, Korea
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated microplastic concentrations, characteristics, and associated microbial communities across six coastal sites in Busan, South Korea, finding average concentrations of 94 particles/m3 dominated by PE, PP, and PS polymers, and using 16S rRNA sequencing to demonstrate that MP-associated bacterial communities were distinct from surrounding seawater, enriched in Psychrobacter, Pseudomonas, and Flavobacterium.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.