A new study from Plymouth Marine Laboratory shows that microplastics in the natural environment are colonized by pathogenic and antimicrobial resistant bacteria. The study team calls for urgent action for waste management and strongly recommends to wear gloves when partaking in any beach cleans.

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

An emerging concern associated with these substrates are the microbial communities that rapidly make their home on the particle surface, forming complex biofilms known as the ‘Plastisphere’. These communities may often include pathogenic (disease-causing) or antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria.

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