Warning issued as study finds microplastics can carry pathogens

The warning comes after a study found that microplastics can act as carriers for harmful pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria, enhancing their survival and spread.

Researchers say this poses a growing risk to environmental and public health and have called for urgent action to improve waste management.

Those who take part in beach cleans have been warned to wear gloves to cut the risk.

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The researchers have also warned of a potential biosecurity risk to aquaculture facilities, where filter-feeding organisms such as oysters and mussels may ingest particles containing pathogens.

“Our research shows that microplastics aren’t just an environmental issue – they may also play a role in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance,” said Dr Aimee Murray, study co-author and senior lecturer of microbiology at the University of Exeter.

“This is why we need integrated, cross-sectoral strategies that tackle microplastic pollution and safeguard both the environment and human health.”

The study team has called for further research into how microplastics interact with pollutants and for improved waste-management practices to reduce the spread of AMR and pathogenic organisms in the environment.

Microplastics are plastic particles less than 5mm in size and are extremely widespread pollutants. It is estimated that more than 125 trillion particles have accumulated in the ocean, and they have also been detected in soils, rivers, lakes, animals and the human body.

An emerging concern is the microbes that rapidly make their home on the plastic particles’ surface, forming complex biofilms known as the “plastisphere”. These often host disease-causing or AMR bacteria.

Wastewater treatment plants or solid waste landfill sites have been blamed for spreading or boosting the evolution of antimicrobial resistance and pathogens in nature.

The study team, led by Dr Emily Stevenson and involving scientists from Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the University of Exeter, developed a novel structure that would allow five different substrates – bio-beads, nurdles, polystyrene, wood and glass – to be secured along a waterway that was expected to decrease in anthropogenic pollution downstream. After two months in the water, pathogens and AMR bacteria were found on all substrates across all sample sites.

The study found that polystyrene and nurdles in particular may pose a greater AMR risk than other substrates, potentially due to their ability to absorb antibiotics.

Unexpectedly, some bacterial pathogens increased in prevalence moving downstream.

“This timely study highlights the pathogenic and AMR risk posed by microplastic substrates littering our ocean and coasts,” said Dr Stevenson.

“By identifying high-risk substrates, we can improve the monitoring of those, or even phase them out for safer alternatives.

“As this work highlights the diverse and sometimes harmful bacteria that grow on plastic in the environment, we recommend that any beach-cleaning volunteer should wear gloves during clean-ups, and always wash their hands afterwards.”

The study has been published in Environment International.