Dissolved organic carbon leaching from microplastics and bioavailability in coastal ecosystems

Abstract

The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) leached from two types of microplastics (polyethylene and polypropylene) frequently found in coastal areas were evaluated in situ. Subsequently, the bioavailability of leached DOC was assessed for microbial inocula from different coastal communities (i.e., estuarine and open-coastal waters, river-mouth waters and seagrass beds). Leached DOC was largely biodegradable (as much as 85 %). However, seagrass beds and river-mouth waters exhibited lower DOC utilization efficiency than estuarine and open-coastal waters, probably because of differences in their microbial communities. The labile/recalcitrant ratio of DOC leached from plastic was similar under illuminated and dark conditions, whereas DOC leached from polyethylene, rather than DOC leached from polypropylene, was preferentially used by microbial communities. We estimated that as many as 21,000 metric tons of DOC leached from plastics may be released into ocean annually. Our results support the need to consider the potential impacts of coastal plastic pollution on microbial communities, including consideration of the trophic webs and coastal carbon cycle.