The Effects of Microplastic Pollution on Aquatic Microorganisms: A review of the sources, fate, and effects

Subject Areas : Biotechnological Journal of Environmental Microbiology

Morteza Azizollahi Aliabadi ¹ (Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Advanced SciencesMedical Sciences University Islamic Azad. Tehran/Iran)
Seyed Reza Hosseini Doust ² (Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Advanced SciencesMedical Sciences University Islamic Azad. Tehran/Iran)
Maryam Miyanabadi ³ (Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences, Tehran Medical Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)

Received: 2022-08-21 Accepted : 2022-09-21 Published : 2022-03-01

Keywords: biofilms, Keywords: Microplastics (MP), Microbial ecology, Aquatic ecosystems,

Abstract :

Microplastics provide an extensive surface for microbial colonization in aquatic ecosystems. The formation of microorganism-microplastic complexes, such as biofilms, maximizes the degradation of organic matter and horizontal gene transfer. microplastic affects the structure and function of microbial communities. Dispersal of microplastic is concomitant with that of their associated microorganisms and their mobile genetic elements, including antibiotic resistance genes, islands of pathogenicity, and diverse metabolic pathways. The presence of microplastics in the marine environment poses a great threat to the entire ecosystem and has received much attention lately as the presence has greatly impacted oceans, lakes, seas, rivers, and even the Polar Regions. Also, Coastal and marine areas are constantly under continuous and increasing pressure from the activities of humans. Microorganisms play essential roles in the ecological fate of microplastic pollution, potentially yielding positive and negative effects. This study provides a holistic view of ongoing microplastics and related microbial research, which may be useful for future microplastic biodegradation studies.