Microbes colonise the 'plastisphere'

The issue of plastic pollution in the marine environment, long symbolised by images of beaches littered with debris and marine animals entangled in plastic, has now extended to a less visible but equally concerning problem: the colonisation of plastics by microbial communities. Scientists are increasingly focusing on these microbes, which have made the vast quantities of plastic in the ocean their home, posing potential threats to marine life and possibly humans. This new ecological niche termed the "plastisphere," facilitates the long-distance travel of microbial communities, including potentially harmful species, across oceans. The presence of these communities on plastic debris alters marine ecosystems, affecting species from filter feeders to oceanic predators. While the direct impact on human health is still under investigation, concerns are rising about the role of the plastisphere in spreading pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, exacerbating the global environmental and health crises linked to plastic pollution.  (Diálogo Chino)