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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

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Published on: July 28, 2018

Plastic Litter Emits the Foraging Infochemical Dimethyl Sulfide after Submersion in Freshwater Rivers.

Katey Valentine^1,2, Claire Hughes¹, Alistair Boxall¹

¹Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, United Kingdom.

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

|April 25, 2024

Summary

Plastic biofilms in rivers produce dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a chemical cue. This study documents DMS production on plastic litter in UK rivers, a previously overlooked freshwater issue.

Keywords:

Algae Analytical chemistry Biofilm Fragrances Freshwater Microplastics Plastic litter

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Published on: May 18, 2019

Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Microbiology

Background:

Plastic pollution is a global aquatic issue, with organisms ingesting plastic debris.
In marine settings, biofilms on plastic produce dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a foraging cue increasing plastic ingestion by invertebrates.
DMS production in freshwater biofilms and its impact on plastic ingestion remain understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate dimethyl sulfide (DMS) production by biofilms on plastic materials submerged in United Kingdom rivers.
To compare DMS production across different plastic types (low-density polyethylene, polylactic acid) and locations (rural vs. urban).
To explore the relationship between biofilm characteristics and DMS production in freshwater environments.

Main Methods:

Submerged low-density polyethylene and polylactic acid films in rural and urban UK rivers for 3 and 6 weeks.
Analyzed biofilm samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to quantify DMS production.
Assessed biofilm weight and photosynthetic pigment content to understand biofilm composition.

Main Results:

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) was consistently detected from biofilms on plastic surfaces in freshwater rivers.
DMS production varied significantly by river location and plastic material; urban river biofilms produced higher levels.
Plastics generated up to seven times more DMS than glass control surfaces, with production linked to nonphotosynthetic microbes.

Conclusions:

This study provides the first evidence of DMS production by plastic litter biofilms in freshwater rivers.
Findings suggest that DMS production by freshwater plastic biofilms could be a biological risk factor, potentially increasing plastic-microbe-organism interactions.
Further research is needed to confirm if DMS influences freshwater organism interactions with plastic debris, mirroring marine ecosystems.