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Biofilm Formation on Polyethylene Microplastics Affects Brevetoxin Adsorption and Desorption
Florane Tondu1, Kristof Moeller1, Khalil Sdiri1
1IAEA Marine Environmental Laboratories, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco.
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
|November 16, 2025
Summary
Biofilms on microplastics reduce brevetoxin adsorption and accelerate its release, suggesting a minor role for biofilm-coated plastics in marine biotoxin transport. This impacts understanding of microplastic contamination in food webs.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Environmental Chemistry
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in marine environments.
- MPs can host microbial biofilms, influencing their environmental fate.
- The role of MPs in biotoxin transport, especially brevetoxin, is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the adsorption and desorption kinetics of brevetoxin 3 (PbTx-3) on polyethylene (PE) microplastics.
- To investigate the influence of biofilms on PE surfaces on brevetoxin adsorption and desorption.
- To assess the potential of microplastics as vectors for brevetoxin entry into marine food webs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized radiolabeled 3H-PbTx-3 to quantify brevetoxin adsorption and desorption.
- Compared brevetoxin kinetics on virgin polyethylene (PE) versus biofilm-coated PE surfaces.
- Monitored toxin retention and release over a one-week period.
Main Results:
- Biofilm-coated PE showed significantly reduced brevetoxin adsorption (0.035 nmol mg−1) compared to virgin PE (0.59 nmol mg−1).
- Toxin desorption was rapid from biofilm-coated PE, with <20% activity remaining after 24h.
- Virgin PE retained >80% activity after 24h, with complete depuration not observed within a week for either surface.
Conclusions:
- Biofilms decrease brevetoxin adsorption onto PE microplastics.
- Biofilms accelerate the desorption of brevetoxin from PE surfaces.
- Biofilm-coated PE likely plays a minor role in marine biotoxin transport compared to virgin PE.
