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Dissolved organic carbon leaching from plastics stimulates microbial activity in the ocean

Author

Listed:
  • Cristina Romera-Castillo

    (University of Vienna
    CSIC Institut de Ciències del Mar)

  • Maria Pinto

    (University of Vienna)

  • Teresa M. Langer

    (University of Vienna)

  • Xosé Antón Álvarez-Salgado

    (CSIC Instituto de Investigacións Mariñas)

  • Gerhard J. Herndl

    (University of Vienna
    Utrecht University)

Abstract

Approximately 5.25 trillion plastic pieces are floating at the sea surface. The impact of plastic pollution on the lowest trophic levels of the food web, however, remains unknown. Here we show that plastics release dissolved organic carbon (DOC) into the ambient seawater stimulating the activity of heterotrophic microbes. Our estimates indicate that globally up to 23,600 metric tons of DOC are leaching from marine plastics annually. About 60% of it is available to microbial utilization in less than 5 days. If exposed to solar radiation, however, this DOC becomes less labile. Thus, plastic pollution of marine surface waters likely alters the composition and activity of the base of the marine food webs. It is predicted that plastic waste entering the ocean will increase by a factor of ten within the next decade, resulting in an increase in plastic-derived DOC that might have unaccounted consequences for marine microbes and for the ocean system.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristina Romera-Castillo & Maria Pinto & Teresa M. Langer & Xosé Antón Álvarez-Salgado & Gerhard J. Herndl, 2018. "Dissolved organic carbon leaching from plastics stimulates microbial activity in the ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03798-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03798-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Christina Zeri & Argyro Adamopoulou & Angeliki Koi & Nicholas Koutsikos & Efthymios Lytras & Elias Dimitriou, 2021. "Rivers and Wastewater-Treatment Plants as Microplastic Pathways to Eastern Mediterranean Waters: First Records for the Aegean Sea, Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Wei Zeng & Yanfei Zhao & Fengtao Zhang & Rongxiang Li & Minhao Tang & Xiaoqian Chang & Ying Wang & Fengtian Wu & Buxing Han & Zhimin Liu, 2024. "A general strategy for recycling polyester wastes into carboxylic acids and hydrocarbons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Eleanor A. Sheridan & Jérémy A. Fonvielle & Samuel Cottingham & Yi Zhang & Thorsten Dittmar & David C. Aldridge & Andrew J. Tanentzap, 2022. "Plastic pollution fosters more microbial growth in lakes than natural organic matter," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Giovanni Davide Barone & Damir Ferizović & Antonino Biundo & Peter Lindblad, 2020. "Hints at the Applicability of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria for the Biodegradation of Plastics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Andrew J Tanentzap & Samuel Cottingham & Jérémy Fonvielle & Isobel Riley & Lucy M Walker & Samuel G Woodman & Danai Kontou & Christian M Pichler & Erwin Reisner & Laurent Lebreton, 2021. "Microplastics and anthropogenic fibre concentrations in lakes reflect surrounding land use," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, September.
    6. Charissa M. Ferrera & Gil S. Jacinto & Chen-Tung Arthur Chen & Hon-Kit Lui, 2018. "Organic Carbon Concentrations in High- and Low-Productivity Areas of the Sulu Sea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-19, June.

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