Harnessing Marine Diatoms for Real-Time Monitoring of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Marine Sediment
Microplastics and nanoplastics pollution is increasingly recognized as a critical environmental challenge. These tiny plastic particles, often less than 20 micrometers in size, pose significant risks as they travel through the marine food chain, potentially affecting every level of the ecosystem and raising concerns about their impact on human health. Traditional techniques struggle to detect particles smaller than 20 micrometers, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of these pollutants' behavior in the ocean. This gap has prompted researchers to explore innovative approaches, particularly focusing on real-time detection methods.
The MOBILES project is addressing this challenge by utilizing marine diatoms – microscopic algae that play a crucial role in marine ecosystems. Diatoms are known for their resilience and adaptability, making them ideal candidates for studying the biodegradation of bioplastics in marine environments. Preliminary studies by CUT have shown promising results, indicating that diatoms not only survive in environments containing bioplastics—plastics derived from renewable biological sources—but also contribute to their biodegradation.
How It Works
Diatoms play a crucial role in the biodegradation of bioplastics in marine environments by breaking down these materials over time, thus helping to reduce plastic pollution. Additionally, diatoms have light-harvesting complexes that show a decrease in light intensity when exposed to nanoplastics, signalling their toxicity. This unique response makes diatoms useful not only for biodegradation but also as natural sensors for detecting plastic pollution in the ocean. These dual applications highlight the potential of diatoms as both a natural cleanup tool and a monitoring system for managing plastic pollution in marine ecosystems. As the world grapples with the growing threat of plastic pollution, innovative approaches like this offer hope for more effective management and mitigation of these persistent pollutants.
