Luca Editorial Board Member
Microbial factories that create invisible plastic dust
A good part of the plastic waste that humans leave in the environment gradually reaches the oceans and other water bodies through water discharge methods… How do they become nanoplastics when they reach the oceans? On November 9In Nature NanotechnologyThe published research paper shows that pollution is becoming invisible but increasingly problematic.
Remember, discarded plastic waste can return to us as invisible dust. Not that the return would not be desirable, but it might be dangerous. It is common for a good portion of the plastic waste that humans leave in the environment to eventually end up in oceans and other bodies of water through drainage channels. Plastic undergoes degradation processes, both organic and inorganic, in the environment. Some small organisms that reach the oceans ‘bitten’ into fine particles. And so pollution becomes invisible but more problematic as they become nanoplastics. On November 9In Nature NanotechnologyThis is clear from the published research paper.
It is already known that plastic materials that come in constant contact with environmental factors deteriorate their physicochemical properties and gradually lead to the formation of plastic fragments. Many studies have been done in this area. When the particles are less than five millimeters in size, they are considered microplastics. Microplastics cover a wide range of sizes from one micron to five millimeters. Reach humans through food, inhalation and skin contact. Likely. Many studies have been conducted on the harmful effects of microplastics in models such as cells, organoids, and animals. Adverse effects include oxidative stress, metabolic disorders, immune response, organ dysfunction, neurotoxicity, as well as reproductive problems, growth problems, and DNA damage. It does not mean that all of these problems occur in humans, but that they increase the risk.
Even more serious is the concern posed by nanoplastics, particles smaller than those. They are less than one micron in size. That makes them more harmful to humans and the environment. This is because they can easily enter the bloodstream and lung cavities. Small organisms are ingested and thus enter the food chain. A new study sheds light on how plastic is making its way into the environment at an astonishing rate. It adds another chapter to research showing that plastic pollution extends from the deep oceans to the atmosphere.
The study was led by Baoshan Xing, an environmental and soil scientist at the University of Massachusetts. Rotifers, small organisms belonging to the zooplankton category, were used for the study. Zooplanktons are planktonic organisms that move along with currents in water and can be classified as zooplankton. Normal size of rotifers 0.1 Since 0.5 mm is up to mm. But there are some that vary in size from 50 microns to 2 millimeters. It is a fact that microplastics can turn into nanoplastics over time. But it is new knowledge that it is happening at a rapid pace. Other natural factors, especially sunlight, will gradually break down the plastic into smaller particles. But it is a slow process.
Krill is an Antarctic crayfish.
A 2018 study found that krill, an Antarctic crayfish, can break down microplastics into nanoplastics. Scientists are ripe for new research by taking inspiration from it. But ‘krill’ lives in a very cold and unpolluted environment. In the new study, the researchers sought to understand whether the same phenomenon occurs for organisms in waters with relatively high temperatures and increased levels of plastic pollution. Rotifers were chosen for that. They are common in water bodies in most places. There are also accessories called ‘trophies’. Their main food is algae and other small things. The trophy is special grinders that help ‘chew’ them. It has a tooth like structure. Scientists For rotifers Small pieces of fluorescent (brightly colored) plastic were given and watched to see what happened. Experiments show that a small organism can produce 300,000 nanoplastic particles less than one micron per day in plastic-rich conditions. These particles are smaller than human red blood cells.
For rotifers
Shing and colleagues found that multiple rotifer species degrade microplastics. Some previous experiments have shown that certain bacteria and enzymes can break down plastic molecules into chemically inert molecules. Investigations are also underway to see if this process can be used to tackle the plastic waste problem. But now researchers have come up with a different, less promising experimental result. Plastic fragments are striated, broken down into smaller fragments and finally converted into nanoplastics. Scientists have tested different types of plastics that are weakened by exposure to light. All fall prey to the ‘trophy’ of rotifers. Singh says rotifers are unlikely to be alone in their astonishing ability to shred microplastics. “We think that any organism with such a chewing apparatus could do a similar process,” Shing comments. To understand how this phenomenon works in diverse ecosystems, researchers are interested in conducting investigations using more species, especially those that live in soil rather than water.
The new research is an important step in understanding what happens to plastic after hundreds of years in the environment. It is clear and indisputable in many studies that the amount of plastic waste in our environment is high and increasing. But there is still to be an accurate understanding of the ways in which it travels and spreads in nature. This is a very interesting study that highlights one of these pathways. It’s also a reminder not to overlook the small, strange life forms that share this planet with us.
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#Small #biofactories #create #invisible #plastic #dust
2024-01-17 13:13:54
