@article{8f78311b978c40ef8743144b87a052a1,
title = "Potential planetary health impacts of the airborne plastisphere",
abstract = "Microplastics are a ubiquitous yet long-overlooked component of airborne particulate matter. The surface of these plastic particles provides a unique niche for microorganisms, collectively known as the plastisphere. The plastisphere in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems harbors microbial communities with distinct compositions, structures, and functional profiles, posing potential planetary health risks. The characteristics, fate, and impacts of the microbiome associated with airborne microplastics, however, remain largely unknown. In this review, we fill the knowledge gaps by exploring how airborne microplastics serve as key habitats for microorganisms and the potential planetary health implications. We show that microplastics are expected to carry and sustain microorganisms over long distances and timescales in air, potentially dispersing pathogens, antibiotic-resistance genes, and other bioactive agents across ecosystems. These interactions may perturb ecological processes and biological health on a planetary scale. Interdisciplinary research and innovative methodologies are urgently required to better understand and mitigate the airborne plastisphere risks.",
keywords = "airborne microplastics, airborne microorganisms, atmospheric transport, biodiversity, climate impacts, ecosystem function, microbial risks, One Health, plastic pollution, the plastisphere",
author = "Changchao Li and Jin, {Ling N.} and Bank, {Michael S.} and Chunlan Fan and Gillings, {Michael R.} and Tingting Zhao and Yong Han and Tian Chen and Meng Gao and Dong Zhu and Qinglin Chen and Guibing Zhu and Jie Wang and Lei Wang and Jian Liu and Xianzheng Yuan and Qishen Huang and Xiaofei Wang and Annika Jahnke and Janice Brahney and Steve Allen and Arp, {Hans Peter H.} and Sonja Oberbeckmann and Melanie Bergmann and Pointing, {Stephen B.} and Daizhou Zhang and Rillig, {Matthias C.}",
note = "Funding information: This work was supported by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (15213922, 15201924, T24-508/22-N, C2002-22Y, and JLFS/E-502/24) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42275119 and 42407368). L.N.J. acknowledges the support of the Presidential Young Scholar Scheme (P0040336), the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development Joint Research Fund (P0042843), and the Research Centre for Nature-based Urban Infrastructure Solutions (P0053045) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. C.L. acknowledges the support of the Hong Kong RGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRFS2526-5S05) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship (P0044024). J.B. acknowledges NSF 2213624 and 2011910. M.C.R. conducted part of this work while visiting the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University through the Theoretical Sciences Visiting Program (TSVP) and PolyU Academy of Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) International Collaboration Scheme, respectively. Publisher copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors.",
year = "2025",
month = oct,
day = "17",
doi = "10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101446",
language = "English",
volume = "8",
journal = "One Earth",
issn = "2590-3330",
publisher = "Cell Press",
number = "10",
}
