Biodegradation of microplastic in freshwaters : a long‐lasting process affected by the lake microbiome
Taipale, S. J., Vesamäki, J., Kautonen, P., Kukkonen, J. V. K., Biasi, C., Nissinen, R., & Tiirola, M. T. (2022). Biodegradation of microplastic in freshwaters : a long‐lasting process affected by the lake microbiome. Environmental Microbiology, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16177
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Environmental MicrobiologyAuthors
Date
2022Discipline
ResurssiviisausyhteisöYmpäristötiedeEkologia ja evoluutiobiologiaAkvaattiset tieteetNanoscience CenterSchool of Resource WisdomEnvironmental ScienceEcology and Evolutionary BiologyAquatic SciencesNanoscience CenterCopyright
© 2022 Wiley-Blackwell
Plastics have been produced for over a century, but definitive evidence of complete plastic biodegradation in different habitats, particularly freshwater ecosystems, is still missing. Using 13C-labeled polyethylene microplastics (PE-MP) and stable isotope analysis of produced gas and microbial membrane lipids, we determined the biodegradation rate and fate of carbon in PE-MP in different freshwater types. The biodegradation rate in the humic-lake waters was much higher (0.45±0.21% per year) than in the clear-lake waters (0.07±0.06% per year) or the artificial freshwater medium (0.02±0.02% per year). Complete biodegradation of PE-MP was calculated to last 100-200 years in humic-lake waters, 300-4000 years in clear-lake waters, and 2000-20000 years in the artificial freshwater medium. The concentration of 18:1ω7, characteristic phospholipid fatty acid in Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria, was a predictor of faster biodegradation of PE. Uncultured Acetobacterioceae and Comamonadacea among Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria, respectively, were major bacteria related to the biodegradation of PE-MP. Altogether, it seems that microbes in the humic lakes with natural refractory polymers have a better ability to decompose PE than in other waters.
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Wiley-BlackwellISSN Search the Publication Forum
1462-2912Keywords
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https://converis.jyu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/151697144
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Research Council of Finland; European Commission; Kone FoundationFunding program(s)
Academy Project, AoF; FP7 (EU's 7th Framework Programme)![](/themes/JYX2/images/funders/eu_logo_thumb.jpg)
The content of the publication reflects only the author’s view. The funder is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.