Element cycling with micro(nano)plastics

• 成果类型: Editorial Material
• 署名作者: Huang, Wei; Xia, Xinghui
• 署名单位: Beijing Normal University
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-9960
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adk9505
• 发表日期: 2024-08-30
• 页码: 933-935
• 关键词: denitrification; plastics

摘要

Plastics in the environment can alter a wide range of biogeochemical cycles Plastic pollution of oceans, terrestrial ecosystems, fresh water, and the atmosphere is pervasive. However, understanding of the interaction between plastics that contaminate the environment and Earth's biogeochemical cycles of elements (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur) is only beginning to emerge. Microplastics (plastic particles <5 mm) and nanoplastics (<1 mu m) are particularly widespread. They originate from the leakage of tiny plastic microbeads and the weathering and fragmentation of various plastic items in the environment. Because micro(nano)-plastics can alter soil and sediment structure and physicochemical properties, they influence element cycling and greenhouse gas production. Moreover, microorganisms can metabolize these plastics as well as dissolved organic matter leached from plastics, which can directly or indirectly affect critical biogeochemical cycles. The plastisphere-the microbial communities that colonize plastic debris-may play an especially important role in element cycling.