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Microplastics are not just tiny particles that can be ingested, they can also carry viruses, a University of Queensland study has revealed.

The study, led by Associate Prof Jianhua Guo and Dr Ji Lu from UQ’s Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB), investigated if microplastics have the ability to harbour viruses, including the one found inside E. coli bacteria.

“We often hear about the human and environmental harm caused by microplastics in water, but there is little known about whether the tiny microplastic particles can carry viruses,” Dr Guo said.

“What we found is that viruses can hitchhike on microplastics and prolong their infectivity, which means there could be an increased risk of virus transmission throughout waterways and the environment.”

Dr Lu said they used the E. coli bacteriophage in the study, which is a virus that infects and replicates within the bacteria itself and is not harmful to humans.

“By testing polystyrene particles of varying sizes, we found that more than 98 per cent of the virus we used was found on the microplastic, and over half of the viruses could still be detected 10 days later – much longer than if the virus particles were free-floating in the water,” Dr Lu said.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135422010612?via%3Dihub

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Could this be what is spreading SCTLD?

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If it's a soup, then it's a rather thin gruel, thankfully.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026974912036187X

> Despite the ubiquitous and persistent presence of microplastic (MP) in marine ecosystems, knowledge of its potential harmful ecological effects is low. In this work, we assessed the risk of floating MP (1 μm–5 mm) to marine ecosystems by comparing ambient concentrations in the global ocean with available ecotoxicity data. The integration of twenty-three species-specific effect threshold concentration data in a species sensitivity distribution yielded a median unacceptable level of 1.21 ∗ 10^5 MP m^-3 (95% CI: 7.99 ∗ 10^-3 – 1.49 ∗ 106 MP m^-3). > > We found that in 2010 for 0.17% of the surface layer (0–5 m) of the global ocean a threatening risk would occur. By 2050 and 2100, this fraction increases to 0.52% and 1.62%, respectively, according to the worst-case predicted future plastic discharge into the ocean. Our results reveal a spatial and multidecadal variability of MP-related risk at the global ocean surface. For example, we have identified the Mediterranean Sea and the Yellow Sea as hotspots of marine microplastic risks already now and even more pronounced in future decades.

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I always wondered how nature would respond to microplastics, it seems the bad guys use them against us then?

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I'm actually surprised a bacterium hasn't evolved the ability to digest plastic en masse yet. I believe they've found some rare bacteria with the ability but it will be interesting if that gene becomes commonplace. Imagine a world where plastics can rot just like everything else.

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Could answer why some reefs get wiped out or some starfish populations

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Yeah, but depending on the compounds that the bacteria break it down into, you might then find yourself dealing with skyrocketed levels of some new chemical pollutant. What happens if the metabolic byproduct is a broad spectrum herbicide or pollinator killer that causes crop failures, a disruptor of our microbimes or developmental hormones, or even a plain old carcinogen? Oops.

Thoughts on the micro polymers in face masks they made people wear to prevent viruses?

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Couple discoveries this year:

"Enzymes that rapidly break down plastic bags have been discovered in the saliva of wax worms"

also

"Researchers at the University of Queensland have discovered the common Zophobas morio ‘superworm’ can eat through polystyrene, thanks to a bacterial enzyme in their gut. "

I think they are cool

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Thanks for the nightmare fuel. Good night!