The Plastisphere Meets Parasitology: Predicting Disease Emergence in Microplastic-Polluted Waters Using Freshwater Snail Sentinels

From Microplastic Pollution to Disease Emergence: AI-Driven Freshwater Snail Sentinels for Predicting Parasite Risks in a Changing Climate

Association of Potential Human Pathogens with Microplastics in Freshwater Systems

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Researchers reviewed evidence that microplastics in freshwater systems act as vectors for human bacterial pathogens, showing that the hydrophobic plastic surfaces and biofilm-forming capacity of microplastics enable colonization and transport of potentially dangerous microorganisms through aquatic environments and into drinking water supplies.

Microplastics in Terrestrial Snails

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Land snails collected from forested and grassy sites in Oak Ridge, Tennessee were found to consistently contain 2–5 microplastic particles per individual across 400 specimens and 16 species, demonstrating widespread microplastic uptake in terrestrial gastropods. This research highlights that microplastic contamination extends into relatively undisturbed terrestrial habitats and accumulates in organisms with no direct aquatic exposure, suggesting airborne or soil-based uptake routes.

Microplastics in Snails from an Urbanized Creek

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Aquatic snails collected from an urbanized creek in Knoxville, Tennessee were found to contain an average of more than 12 microplastic particles each, with microfibers comprising 92% of the 212 total particles recovered from just 10 specimens. This study demonstrates that urban freshwater invertebrates are heavily exposed to microplastics, with clothing-derived microfibers as the dominant source, raising concerns about contamination moving up the food chain.

Apple Snails as Bioindicators of Microplastic Pollution in Singapore's Freshwaters

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Researchers used apple snails as bioindicators to measure microplastic pollution in Singapore's freshwater bodies for the first time, suggesting these snails could serve as a practical and cost-effective tool for tracking plastic contamination in urban water systems.