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Updated: Dec 21, 2025

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
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Microplastics affect sedimentary microbial communities and nitrogen cycling.

Meredith E Seeley1, Bongkeun Song2, Renia Passie2

  • 1Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, P.O. Box 1346, Gloucester Point, VA, 23062, US. meseeley@vims.edu.

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Microplastics in sediments alter microbial communities and nitrogen cycling. Certain plastics like PUF and PLA enhance nitrification and denitrification, while PVC inhibits these processes.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Geochemistry

Background:

  • Microplastics are widespread in marine and estuarine sediments.
  • Their effects on microbial ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how different microplastics (polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane foam, polylactic acid) affect sedimentary microbial community composition and nitrogen cycling.
  • To determine if microplastics influence key nitrogen transformation processes like nitrification and denitrification.

Main Methods:

  • A microcosm experiment was conducted using salt marsh sediment.
  • Sediments were amended with four types of microplastics: PE, PVC, PUF, and PLA.
  • Microbial community composition and nitrogen cycling processes were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Microplastic presence significantly altered the composition of sediment microbial communities.
  • Polyurethane foam (PUF) and polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics promoted nitrification and denitrification.
  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics inhibited both nitrification and denitrification.

Conclusions:

  • Different types of microplastics exert varying impacts on sedimentary nitrogen cycling.
  • Microplastics can act as substrates for microbial communities, influencing biogeochemical processes.
  • The pervasive issue of microplastic pollution necessitates further research into their global ecological impacts.