Interaction between Microplastics and Pathogens in Subsurface System: What We Know So Far

Zhao, Hongyu; Hong, Xiaotao; Chai, Juanfen; Wan, Bo; Zhao, Kaichao; Han, Cuihong; Zhang, Wenjing; Huan, Huan

doi:10.3390/w16030499

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Interaction between Microplastics and Pathogens in Subsurface System: What We Know So Far

by

Hongyu Zhao

^1,2,

Xiaotao Hong

^1,2,

Juanfen Chai

^1,2,

Bo Wan

^1,2,

Kaichao Zhao

^1,2,

Cuihong Han

^1,2,

Wenjing Zhang

^1,2,*

and

Huan Huan

^3,*

¹

Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment (Jilin University), Ministry of Education, Changchun 130021, China

²

College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China

³

Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Water 2024, 16(3), 499; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16030499

Submission received: 4 January 2024 / Revised: 26 January 2024 / Accepted: 29 January 2024 / Published: 4 February 2024

(This article belongs to the Topic Microplastics Pollution)

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Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are abundant in soil and the subsurface environment. They can co-transport with pathogens or act as vectors for pathogens, potentially causing severe ecological harm. The interaction of MPs with pathogens is an important topic. To describe the origins and features of MPs in the subsurface environment, we evaluated relevant studies conducted in the laboratory and field groundwater habitats. We explore the interactions between pathogens and microplastics from three perspectives including the respective physicochemical properties of microplastics and pathogens, external environmental factors, and the binding between microplastics and pathogens. The effects of some interaction mechanisms and environmental factors on their co-transport are discussed. The key factors affecting their interaction are the particle size, specific surface area, shape and functional groups of MPs, the zeta potential and auxiliary metabolic genes of pathogens, and the hydrophobicity of both. Environmental factors indirectly affect MPs and the interaction and co-transport process of pathogens by changing their surface properties. These findings advance our knowledge of the ecological behavior of MPs–pathogens and the associated potential health hazards.

Keywords: microplastic–pathogen interactions; environmental factor; co-migration; health risk

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhao, H.; Hong, X.; Chai, J.; Wan, B.; Zhao, K.; Han, C.; Zhang, W.; Huan, H. Interaction between Microplastics and Pathogens in Subsurface System: What We Know So Far. Water 2024, 16, 499. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16030499

AMA Style

Zhao H, Hong X, Chai J, Wan B, Zhao K, Han C, Zhang W, Huan H. Interaction between Microplastics and Pathogens in Subsurface System: What We Know So Far. Water. 2024; 16(3):499. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16030499

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhao, Hongyu, Xiaotao Hong, Juanfen Chai, Bo Wan, Kaichao Zhao, Cuihong Han, Wenjing Zhang, and Huan Huan. 2024. "Interaction between Microplastics and Pathogens in Subsurface System: What We Know So Far" Water 16, no. 3: 499. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16030499

APA Style

Zhao, H., Hong, X., Chai, J., Wan, B., Zhao, K., Han, C., Zhang, W., & Huan, H. (2024). Interaction between Microplastics and Pathogens in Subsurface System: What We Know So Far. Water, 16(3), 499. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16030499

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Interaction between Microplastics and Pathogens in Subsurface System: What We Know So Far

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