Physicochemical behavior and ecological risk of biofilm-mediated microplastics in aquatic environments

Abstract

The prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments has become the core of environmental pollution. In recent years, the inevitable biological aging process of MPs in natural environments has attracted researchers' attention. Such biofilm-mediated MPs, colonized by microorganisms, affect the physicochemical behavior and potential ecological risks of MPs. Therefore, it is critical to understand the impact of MPs' biofilm formation on the environmental fate and toxicity of MPs. This review presented a comprehensive discussion of the impact of biofilm formation on unique carrier effects and toxicological effects of MPs in aquatic environments. First, the biofilm formation process on MPs, the compositions of microorganisms in biofilm and the factors influencing biofilm formation were briefly summarized. Second, the sorption of pollutants and enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes onto biofilm-mediated MPs were discussed. Third, the potential effects of biofilm-mediated MPs on gut microbiota were analyzed. Finally, gaps in the field that require further investigations were put forward. This review emphasized that biofilm-mediated MPs have higher environmental risks and ecotoxicity, which is helpful in providing new insights for pollution prevention and control of new pollutant MPs.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance genes; Biofilm formation; Biofilms on microplastics; Carrier effects; Gut microbiota.