Abstract
Microplastics or plastic particles less than 5 mm in size are a ubiquitous and damaging pollutant in the marine environment. However, the interactions between these plastic particles and marine microorganisms are just starting to be understood. The objective of this study was to measure the responses of a characteristic marine organism (Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002) to an anthropogenic stressor (polyethelene nanoparticles and microparticles) using molecular techniques. This investigation showed that polyethylene microparticles and nanoparticles have genetic, enzymatic and morphological effects on Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. An RT-PCR analysis showed increases in the expression of esterase and hydrolase genes at 5 days of exposure to polyethylene nanoparticles and at 10 days of exposure to polyethylene microparticles. A qualitative enzymatic assay also showed esterase activity in nanoparticle exposed samples. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy was used to assess morphological changes in exopolymer formation resulting from exposure to polyethylene microparticles and nanoparticles. The data from this paper suggests that microplastic and nanoplastics could be key microbial stressors and should be investigated in further detail.
Highlights
Microplastics, or plastic particles less than 5 millimeters, pose a significant challenge to the health of marine habitats across the globe. [1] Studies suggest microplastic is one of the most abundant forms of solid waste on earth, accounting for 92% of plastic waste on the ocean’s surface
Cryo-SEM analysis showed the appearance of biofilm morphology including extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) fibril formation on polyethylene particle surfaces within 12 days of exposure to particulate solutions
EPS fibril structures as highlighted in Fig 3 could be seen in both polyethylene nanoparticle and polyethylene microparticle samples
Summary
Microplastics, or plastic particles less than 5 millimeters, pose a significant challenge to the health of marine habitats across the globe. [1] Studies suggest microplastic is one of the most abundant forms of solid waste on earth, accounting for 92% of plastic waste on the ocean’s surface. [1] Studies suggest microplastic is one of the most abundant forms of solid waste on earth, accounting for 92% of plastic waste on the ocean’s surface. The world’s oceans are thought to contain somewhere between 93 and 236 metric tons of microplastic particles with nearly 8 tons added each year. Polyethylene is one of the most manufactured polymers [2], and forms the majority of the microplastic particles on the ocean’s surface in many areas [3], [4]. The impacts of these long half-life plastics on the ocean environment are just starting to be understood.
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