Plastic additives are emerging as active agents that shape the environmental impacts of microplastics. In this study, we investigated how a polyethylene microplastic formulation containing the commonly used UV filter benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and a calcium carbonate filler affects aging and biofilm colonization in freshwater. The additive-containing formulation altered the density and crystallinity of polyethylene particles and predisposed the material for faster surface transformation and formation of pits and cracks during aging. At the same time, it suppressed biofilm formation, reduced the development of extracellular polymeric substances by microorganisms, and specifically affected phototrophic microorganisms. Microbial community profiling revealed a shift from cyanobacteria-dominated biofilms to heterotrophic, chemically more resilient taxa, accompanied by enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes. Despite comparable genetic potential for polymer degradation, microbial activity was inhibited, indicating a trade-off between abiotic and biotic degradation. These results indicated that the tested additive-containing polyethylene formulation reduces microplastics stability and alters biofilm composition, highlighting the importance of considering additives in assessments of microplastic persistence and environmental effects.
B. Klun, Živa Zidar, Anja Klančnik et al.· Environmental Pollution· 0 citations
Nanoplastics (NPs), defined as plastic particles smaller than 1 μm, pose emerging environmental and health concern due to their ability to penetrate biological membranes and accumulate in living organisms. Conventional analytical methods for NPs sampling and detection, generally restricted to NPs >100 nm, are often limited by complexity, high cost, and lack of suitability for rapid or on-field monitoring. In this study, we developed a novel electrochemical strategy for the in-situ capture and detection of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) using a gold screen-printed electrode, modified by mesoporous silica thin film, followed by proline functionalization via epoxy-silane. The adsorption of negatively charged PSNPs is electrochemically controlled and enhanced by selective accumulation potentials, resulting in a decreased ferricyanide anodic current. The sensor exhibits good sensitivity and reproducibility, as well as size-dependent detection of PSNPs as small as 34 kDa. Calibration curves, obtained by differential pulse voltammetry, demonstrate linear response across environmentally relevant concentration levels for all investigated PSNPs sizes (34, 564, and 2530 kDa), with increasing sensitivity for decreasing particle diameter - a trend consistent with surface coverage and mass transport considerations. Finally, the sensor's real-world applicability was evaluated by the determination of PSNPs in a spiked commercial brand of drinking water, with resulting recoveries between 86.7% and 102.1%. This straightforward, reagent-free electrochemical platform offers rapid response times, simple operational methodology, and suitability for on-site monitoring of NPs contamination in aquatic environments.
Maksimiljan Dekleva, Ula Putar, G. Kalčíková et al.· Talanta: The International J...· 0 citations
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