Aug 2026· Environmental Pollution· Vol 411, pp.
128882
· 0 citations· 66 references
Medicine
Abstract
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.
Waterborne pathogens and bacterial communities that can form biofilms still persist, and microbial contamination of water remains an important public health problem. A multifunctional hydroxyethyl cellulose/polyethylene glycol cryogel incorporated with strontium oxide and activated carbon (HEC/PEG–SrO/AC) was developed...
M. Khalaf, H. A. Abd El-Lateef, Mahmoud A. Abdelaziz et al.· Water, Air and Soil Pollutio...· 0 citations
Indonesia is one of the countries that contributes significant amounts of plastic waste to coastal environments. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a petroleum-based synthetic thermoplastic and the primary source of environmental plastic pollution. The stable aliphatic chains with strong C–C bonds in HDPE render it re...
N. Alami, Rosi Yulia Karinda Sari, Nabila Anindya Salma et al.· Indonesian Journal of Enviro...· 0 citations
To evaluate the antimicrobial effect of essential oil-loaded thermoformable cellulose-based material on the formation of biofilms by Streptococcus mutans and three-species biofilms (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus sanguinis) under in vitro flow conditions. Cellulose-based thermoforma...
Lisa Stäuble, O. Braissant, C. Verna et al.· Clinical Oral Investigations· 0 citations
Microplastics (MPs) are important vectors for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in anaerobic digestion systems, yet the risks posed by cellulose/polyester-blended materials remain poorly understood. In this study, commercial airlaid paper (AP; 45 % cellulose and 55 % polyester), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP),...
Polymer modification shows potential for improving the performance of clays in geotechnical applications. This includes its use as a filler in clay liners under challenging geotechnical and environmental conditions (e.g., exposure to aggressive leachates and intensive drying), as well as applications in soil stabilisat...
N. Kallerhoff, Eva Heinz, W. Lieske et al.· PLoS ONE· 0 citations
