The hidden risk of microplastic-associated pathogens in aquatic environments

Huan Zhong; Mengjie Wu; Christian Sonne; Su Shiung Lam; Raymond W M Kwong; Yuelu Jiang; Xiaoli Zhao; Xuemei Sun; Xuxiang Zhang; Chengjun Li; Yuanyuan Li; Guangbo Qu; Feng Jiang; Huahong Shi; Rong Ji; Hongqiang Ren

doi:10.1016/j.eehl.2023.07.004

The hidden risk of microplastic-associated pathogens in aquatic environments

Eco Environ Health. 2023 Jul 21;2(3):142-151. doi: 10.1016/j.eehl.2023.07.004. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Huan Zhong¹, Mengjie Wu¹, Christian Sonne², Su Shiung Lam^{3

4}, Raymond W M Kwong⁵, Yuelu Jiang⁶, Xiaoli Zhao⁷, Xuemei Sun⁸, Xuxiang Zhang¹, Chengjun Li⁹, Yuanyuan Li¹⁰, Guangbo Qu¹¹, Feng Jiang¹², Huahong Shi¹³, Rong Ji¹, Hongqiang Ren¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Environment, Nanjing University, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing 210023, China.
² Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark.
³ Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
⁴ University Centre for Research and Development, Department of Chemistry, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab, India.
⁵ Department of Biology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada.
⁶ Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China.
⁷ State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
⁸ Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.
⁹ Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
¹⁰ Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (HUST), Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
¹¹ State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
¹² School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
¹³ State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.

Abstract

Increasing studies of plastisphere have raised public concern about microplastics (MPs) as vectors for pathogens, especially in aquatic environments. However, the extent to which pathogens affect human health through MPs remains unclear, as controversies persist regarding the distinct pathogen colonization on MPs as well as the transmission routes and infection probability of MP-associated pathogens from water to humans. In this review, we critically discuss whether and how pathogens approach humans via MPs, shedding light on the potential health risks involved. Drawing on cutting-edge multidisciplinary research, we show that some MPs may facilitate the growth and long-range transmission of specific pathogens in aquatic environments, ultimately increasing the risk of infection in humans. We identify MP- and pathogen-rich settings, such as wastewater treatment plants, aquaculture farms, and swimming pools, as possible sites for human exposure to MP-associated pathogens. This review emphasizes the need for further research and targeted interventions to better understand and mitigate the potential health risks associated with MP-mediated pathogen transmission.

Keywords: Colonization; Microplastics; Pathogens; Public health; Transmission.

Publication types

Review