The role of microplastics biofilm in accumulation of trace metals in aquatic environments
Оlena Stabnikova, Viktor Stabnikov, Andriy Marinin, Māris Kļaviņš, Ashok Vaseashta
Abstract
Microplastics are one of the major contaminants of aquatic nature where they can interact with organic and inorganic pollutants, including trace metals, and adsorb them. At the same time, after the microplastics have entered the aquatic environments, they are quickly covered with a biofilm - microorganisms which are able to produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that can facilitate sorption of trace metals from surrounding water. The microbial community of biofilm contains bacteria which synthesizes EPS with antimicrobial activity making them more competitive than other microbial inhabitants. The trace metal trapping by bacterial EPS can inhibit the development of certain microorganisms, therefore, a single microparticle participates in complex interactions of the diverse elements surrounding it. The presented review aims to consider the variety of interactions associated with the adsorption of trace metal ions on the surface of microplastics covered with biofilm, the fate of such microplastics and the ever-increasing risk to the environment caused by the combination of these large-scale pollutants - microplastics and trace metals. Since aquatic pollution problems affect the entire planet, strict regulation of the production, use, and disposal of plastic materials is needed to mitigate the effects of this emerging pollutant and its complexes could have on the environment and human health.