Publications by authors named "Benjamin M Cotterell"
Article Synopsis
- Emerging research shows that micro- and macro-plastics in water can harbor diverse microbial communities, including harmful pathogens, raising concerns about beach water safety regulations.
- The review points out significant gaps in understanding how plastics and pathogens interact and calls for a shift in managing risks related to plastic pollution at public beaches.
- It proposes a decision-making framework to address plastic-associated pathogen risks, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to minimize human exposure, not just for water users but also for those near the water.
Urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) represent key point-source discharges of microplastics (MP) into the environment, however, little is known about the microbial carrying capacity of plastics travelling through them. The purpose of this study was to quantify the number of cells that become associated with MP at different locations within a WWTP, and to assess differences in microbiome communities. We conducted a field experiment incubating low density polyethylene (LDPE) MP beads in WWTP influent and effluent, as well as tracking free floating beads during passage in wastewater from a large municipal hospital to an urban WWTP, where they were subsequently recovered.
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- The study investigates the relationship between plastics pollution, biofilms on plastics, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in various marine environments.
- Experiments showed that microbial communities on different plastics changed significantly over a 16-week period, transitioning from wastewater microorganisms to marine species, with some populations becoming more abundant.
- Despite initial presence, AMR gene levels declined over time on the plastics, indicating that they did not become hotspots for AMR growth in marine conditions.