Microplastics are harming the Earth in more ways than we know. Scientists have discovered that these tiny plastic particles are not just contributing to pollution—they may also be driving the rise of drug-resistant bacteria.
Researchers at Boston University found that bacteria exposed to microplastics developed resistance to life-saving antibiotics.
This poses a serious threat, especially in overcrowded, underserved areas like refugee settlements, where plastic waste accumulates, and bacterial infections spread more easily.
Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics for many reasons, including overuse of medications. But their surroundings also play a big role. At Boston University’s Zaman Laboratory, researchers tested how E. coli, a common bacteria, reacted when exposed to microplastics in a closed environment.
“The plastics provide a surface that the bacteria attach to and colonize,” says Neila Gross, lead author of the study.
Breeding ground for superbugs
The bacteria create a biofilm once it attaches to any surface. This biofilm acts like a shield, protecting it from invaders and keeping them affixed securely.
While bacteria can grow biofilms on any surface, researcher Gross found that microplastics supercharged this process.
When antibiotics were introduced, the enhanced biofilm blocked the medicine, preventing it from killing the bacteria.
“We found that the biofilms on microplastics, compared to other surfaces like glass, are much stronger and thicker, like a house with a ton of insulation,” Gross said.
The scientists conducted the experiment several times, trying different antibiotic combinations on different types of material, but the rate of antibiotic resistance on the microplastics consistently remained very high.
“We’re demonstrating that the presence of plastics is doing a whole lot more than just providing a surface for the bacteria to stick—they are actually leading to the development of resistant organisms,” Muhammad Zaman, a Boston University College of Engineering professor, said.
The researchers now plan to expand their studies beyond the lab to understand how their findings apply in real-world settings.
They aim to collaborate with international partners to monitor refugee camps for microplastics-related antibiotic-resistant bacteria and viruses.
Additionally, they seek to uncover the exact mechanisms that enable bacteria to cling so strongly to plastic.
Plastic strengthens bacterial defenses
Scientists believe that plastics’ adaptable nature may help bacteria thrive, though the exact process remains unclear.
One theory, the researchers said, is that plastics repel water, making it easier for bacteria to attach.
Over time, plastics absorb moisture, which could allow microplastics to soak up antibiotics before they reach the bacteria.
Researchers also discovered that even after removing microplastics, the bacteria retained their ability to form stronger biofilms.
These tiny plastic fragments, resulting from the breakdown of larger plastics, have infiltrated virtually every corner of the globe.
They are found in the deepest ocean trenches, within the tissues of marine organisms ranging from plankton to whales, and have even been detected in the air and snow of remote mountain peaks.
Earlier this month, scientists made a disturbing revelation about microplastics infiltrating human brain tissue, raising serious questions about our health.
Source: IE
