Plastic pollution is out of control.more than every year 8 million tons of synthetic polymers flow into the ocean. sink to the floorreturn to coast,or in the middle of nowherea good portion not so easy to explain.
All the lost plastic is a mystery, but some researchers suspect that hungry microbes are partly to blame.
Laboratory experiments have shown that it is known as a type of marine bacterium. rhodococcus rubercan slowly break down and digest plastics made from Polyethylene (PE).
Mainly used for packaging, PE is the most commonly produced plastic in the world. R. Rubber It devours this waste product in the wild, but new research confirms it can at least do so.
Research so far I found stocks of R. Rubber It floats in dense cell membranes on ocean plastic.Moreover, an initial survey in 2006 was suggested bottom plastic R. Rubber It was collapsing faster than normal.
New research confirms that to be the case.
“This is the first time that we have proven in this way that bacteria can actually break down plastic into CO2 and other molecules.” To tell Maaike Goudriaan, a microbial ecologist at the Royal Dutch Institute of Oceanography (NIOZ).
To emulate the natural way plastic decomposes at the surface of the ocean, Goudriaan and her colleagues exposed plastic samples to ultraviolet light and placed them in artificial seawater.
“The UV treatment was necessary because we already know that sunlight partially breaks down the plastic into bite-sized chunks for bacteria.” I will explain Goodrian.
Then the team R. Rubber to the scene.
By measuring the levels of carbon-13, an isotope of carbon released from disintegrating plastics, the authors estimate that in their experiments the polymer degrades at a rate of about 1.2% per year.
The team was unable to confirm to what extent the UV lamps spoiled the plastic compared to microbial activity, but bacteria clearly played a role. showed abundant fatty acid membranes.
The rate of plastic decay identified in the current study too late It’s meant to solve the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans once and for all, but it shows where some of our planet’s missing plastic could have gone.
“Our data indicate that sunlight may have degraded a significant amount of floating plastic that has littered the ocean since the 1950s.” To tell Microbiologist Analisa Delle.
Microbes may have then moved in and digested some of the sun’s leftovers.
Since 2013, researchers have warned Microorganisms probably thrive in plastic patches in the ocean, forming synthetic ecosystems that have come to be known as “plastispheres.”
Some of these microbial communities are adapted Eating all kinds of plastic.
Previous studies have identified specific bacteria and fungi. on the ground When underwater, seems to be eating plastic. But while that knowledge may help us better, recycle our waste Other uses are controversial before it ends in the wild.
Some scientists have suggested unleashing the plastic-devouring equivalents into pollution hotspots. Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
other i don’t know if that’s a good idea. artificial enzyme When bacteria Breaking down plastic may sound like a great way to eliminate our waste, but some experts worry about its unintended side effects on natural ecosystems and food webs. .
After all, breaking down plastic isn’t always a good thing. Microplastics are much more difficult to clean than larger pieces, and these smaller debris can penetrate food webs. There is a possibility.
so study In 2020, all seafood samples tested in Australian markets contained microplastics.
What it does to human and animal health totally unknown.
“Prevention is much better than cleanup.” claim Goodrian.
“And only we humans can do that.”
This research marine pollution bulletin.
