Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Bacterial colonization dynamics of different microplastic types in an anoxic salt marsh sediment and impact of adsorbed polychlorinated biphenyls on the plastisphere

Researchers tracked bacterial colonization on different microplastic types in anoxic salt marsh sediment over one year, finding that PVC recruited distinct sulfate-reducing bacterial communities and that PCB-contaminated plastics failed to stimulate actual dechlorination.

2022 Environmental Pollution 22 citations
Article Tier 2

A Study of the Effects of Microplastics on Microbial Communities in Marine Sediments

This study investigated how the presence of microplastics in marine sediments affects microbial communities and, specifically, the methane cycle, finding that microplastics significantly altered microbial community structure and function. Since marine sediment microbes play a critical role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions, microplastic contamination could have broader climate-relevant effects beyond direct toxicity.

2024 Highlights in Science Engineering and Technology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

[Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics on Growth and Halocarbon Release of Marine Microalgae].

Lab experiments showed that polyethylene microplastics affected two species of marine microalgae differently, inhibiting growth of one while promoting growth of the other. Microplastic stress also increased production of reactive oxygen species and altered the release of volatile halocarbons, trace gases important for climate and ozone chemistry.

2023 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

[Effect of Polyethylene Microplastics on the Microbial Community of Saline Soils].

Researchers investigated how polyethylene (PE) microplastics at concentrations of 1% and 4% dry weight affect microbial communities in saline soils under chloride and sulphate salt conditions, finding that PE microplastics reduced microbial diversity and abundance with sulphate soils showing stronger effects and Proteobacteria relative abundance positively correlating with microplastic concentration.

2024 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of microplastics on microbial anaerobic detoxification of chlorophenols

Microplastics were found to significantly inhibit microbial reductive dehalogenation of chlorophenols in anaerobic marine sediments, disrupting a natural detoxification process and potentially causing toxic compounds to persist longer in marine environments.

2022 Environmental Pollution 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Insight into the bacterial community composition of the plastisphere in diverse environments of a coastal salt marsh

Researchers conducted a year-long field experiment examining microbial communities that colonize different types of microplastics in a Chinese coastal salt marsh across three distinct habitat zones. They found that the type of plastic polymer and the surrounding environment both significantly influenced the composition of the bacterial communities growing on the plastic surfaces. The study reveals that bio-based plastics like polylactic acid harbored distinctly different microbial communities compared to petroleum-based plastics like polyethylene.

2024 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Colonization characteristics and dynamic transition of archaea communities on polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics in the sediments of mangrove ecosystems

Researchers found that microplastics in mangrove sediments host distinct communities of archaea (ancient microorganisms) that differ from those in surrounding sediments, with some species linked to increased methane production. The microbial communities on microplastic surfaces shifted over time and showed increased potential for methane emissions and changes in nitrogen cycling. This suggests that microplastic pollution in coastal wetlands could amplify greenhouse gas production and disrupt nutrient cycles that support these critical ecosystems.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic effects on soil organic matter dynamics and bacterial communities under contrasting soil environments

Researchers compared microplastic effects on soil organic matter dynamics and bacterial communities across contrasting soil environments, finding that the type of microplastic polymer and soil conditions together determine whether microbial activity and carbon cycling are stimulated or suppressed.

2024
Article Tier 2

Effects of long-term plastic film mulching on microplastic and phthalate esters pollution in salt-affected soils: Microbial community shifts and enrichment of putative degraders

Researchers found that 1-30 years of continuous plastic film mulching in salinized cotton fields caused progressive accumulation of microplastics and their phthalate ester degradation products in soil, with co-contamination significantly altering soil microbial community composition and functional interactions.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Depth-dependent response of soil microbial community and greenhouse gas efflux to polylactic acid microplastics and tidal cycles in a mangrove ecosystem

Researchers found that biodegradable plastic (PLA) microplastics in mangrove soil increased the release of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide and methane, from deeper soil layers. The microplastics altered soil bacterial communities in ways that boosted methane-producing organisms. This finding is important because biodegradable plastics are often marketed as environmentally friendly, but they may still harm ecosystems by accelerating carbon release from soils.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Dynamics and functions of microbial communities in the plastisphere in temperate coastal environments

Researchers explored microbial communities colonizing microplastics in coastal environments of Japan, comparing bacterial and fungal communities across different plastic types, water, sediment, and sand. The study found that while microbial communities varied by sample type and location rather than plastic shape, microplastics harbored hydrocarbon-degrading organisms as well as potential pathogens, highlighting the ecological significance of plastic-associated biofilms.

2024 Water Research 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Production Potential of Greenhouse Gases Affected by Microplastics at Freshwater and Saltwater Ecosystems

Researchers experimentally analyzed how four types of microplastics (PET, HDPE, PVC, and polyamide) affect greenhouse gas production in freshwater and saltwater soils, finding that microplastics promoted CO2 production across all ecosystems while HDPE had the greatest impact on methane emissions at 1,276 umol/g/L.

2022 Atmosphere 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Study on the impact of microplastic characteristics on ecological function, microbial community migration and reconstruction mechanisms during saline-alkali soil remediation

Researchers systematically analyzed how polyethylene, polypropylene, and PBAT microplastics affect soil ecological functions and microbial communities during saline-alkali soil remediation. The study found that different types of microplastics introduced through agricultural practices such as plastic film residue have complex and varying effects on soil microbial community structure, with implications for understanding how plastic contamination affects agricultural soil improvement efforts.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of emerging contaminants on soil microbial community composition, soil enzyme activity, and strawberry plant growth in polyethylene microplastic-containing soils

Researchers found that emerging contaminants altered soil microbial community composition and enzyme activity, but these effects were suppressed when HDPE microplastics were also present in the soil, suggesting microplastics may modulate how soils respond to chemical contaminants.

2023 Environmental Science Advances 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics promote methane emission in estuarine and coastal wetlands

This study found that microplastics in coastal and estuarine wetlands increase methane emissions by boosting the activity of methane-producing microorganisms while reducing methane-consuming ones. Both conventional and biodegradable plastics had this effect, meaning microplastic pollution is not just a direct health concern but also contributes to climate change by amplifying greenhouse gas release from natural ecosystems.

2024 Water Research 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Revealing the response of microbial communities to polyethylene micro(nano)plastics exposure in cold seep sediment

Researchers explored how polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics affect microbial communities in cold seep ocean sediments over a 120-day experiment. While the plastics did not significantly change overall microbial diversity, they did alter the community structure and affected methane-related metabolic processes. The study suggests that plastic pollution could interfere with important deep-sea biogeochemical cycles, including those involved in methane regulation.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microplastics distinctly affect soil microbial community and carbon and nitrogen cycling during plant litter decomposition

Researchers measured how polyethylene microplastics affect soil microbial communities and carbon cycling in agricultural soils, finding that microplastic addition shifted microbial diversity and suppressed key carbon mineralization processes. The results suggest microplastic accumulation in farmland could impair soil carbon storage.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Decreased Dimethylsulfide and Increased Polybrominated Methanes: Potential Climate Effects of Microplastic Pollution in Acidified Ocean

A ship-based microcosm experiment simulating ocean acidification and microplastic pollution found that combined conditions decreased dimethylsulfide production and increased polybrominated methane emissions, with potential climate-active gas implications for ocean carbon cycling.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microplastic-induced microbial shifts affected greenhouse gas emissions during litter decomposition in coastal wetland sediments

Scientists found that polyethylene microplastics in coastal wetland sediments significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions during plant litter decomposition, cutting methane by 41% and carbon dioxide by 26%. This happened because the microplastics changed the communities of bacteria, fungi, and archaea responsible for breaking down organic matter. While reduced greenhouse gases may sound positive, the disruption to natural decomposition processes could have unpredictable long-term effects on coastal ecosystems.

2024 Water Research 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polypropylene microplastics on carbon dioxide dynamics in intertidal mangrove sediments

This study investigated how polypropylene microplastics affect carbon dioxide dynamics in mangrove sediments. Researchers found that microplastic contamination altered organic carbon content and microbial communities, influencing CO2 release patterns differently depending on tidal elevation and microplastic concentration.

2024 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Soil properties, microbial diversity, and changes in the functionality of saline-alkali soil are driven by microplastics

Researchers investigated the effects of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics at different sizes and doses on saline-alkali soil properties and microbial communities. The study found that polyethylene had a stronger negative effect than polypropylene, significantly reducing microbial diversity at high doses and suppressing nitrogen fixation potential, while polypropylene treatment actually promoted some microbial diversity.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 102 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of different concentrations and types of microplastics on bacteria and fungi in alkaline soil

Researchers examined how different types and concentrations of polyethylene, polystyrene, and PVC microplastics affect soil bacteria and fungi in alkaline soil over 310 days, finding that all three stimulated enzyme activities and shifted microbial community abundance patterns.

2021 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 166 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbe-mineral interactions in the Plastisphere: Coastal biogeochemistry and consequences for degradation of plastics

This study investigated how microbe-mineral interactions in the plastisphere influence coastal biogeochemistry, finding that plastic surfaces support distinct microbial communities that participate in mineral formation and elemental cycling in ways that may accelerate or alter plastic degradation.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene Microplastic Particles Alter the Nature, Bacterial Community and Metabolite Profile of Reed Rhizosphere Soils

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastic particles alter the bacterial community composition, soil environmental factors, and metabolite profiles of reed rhizosphere soils, with effects increasing at higher microplastic concentrations and showing distinct interactions with reed biomass.

2023 Water 14 citations