Sponges are clean among the harmful plastics in nature –

Plastic waste ending up in nature is a very big problem today. This is what researchers at Lund University observed.

– Regardless of whether they are accidentally dumped in nature, leak from landfills, or come from materials such as car tires and synthetic clothing, large amounts of micro- and nano-plastics end up in our soil, says biology researcher Michaela Mavla Endara. .

Nanoplastics have been shown to be toxic to living organisms, but it is not fully understood how they affect the Earth’s ecosystem.

To study polystyrene nanoparticles, which are used in plastics, researchers used so-called microfluidic chips. It makes it possible to observe interactions between individual cells and plastic materials under a microscope.

The fungi clean their surroundings

Through a carefully designed soil model, the researchers investigated how small polystyrene particles affect bacteria and fungi.

– At the highest concentration of nanoplastics, the fungi grabbed most of the microplastics in their surroundings, in a process we call the “vacuum cleaner effect.” Overall, we found that nanoplastics can have a direct negative impact on soil microbes. This underscores the need for more studies that can explain how microbes’ response to stress can affect soil functions, says Michaela Mafla Endara.

The nanoplastic particles stuck to the mushroom branches, leaving the surrounding areas virtually free of nanoplastic. The fungus cleaned its surroundings in high concentrations and was then able to regain its growth power.

There is no easy solution to the problem

Although the study’s findings can be confirmed under many conditions, the researchers point out that it may depend on the species.

– This serves as a reminder to reduce plastic waste and soil pollution. Finding fungi that can collect nanoplastics from soil solution could help other organisms better tolerate pollution and potentially attract bacteria that can break down plastic. The “vacuum cleaner effect” of mushrooms is not a simple solution to the problem, but it could offer some hope for the future, says Edith Hammer, a biology researcher at Lund University.

Scientific study:

Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics reduces bacterial and fungal biomass in microscopic soil models, Holistic ecology.

communication:

Edith Hammer, Researcher at the Department of Biology, Lund University, [email protected]

Paola Mafla Endara, Researcher at the Department of Biology, Lund University, [email protected]