• Expert MSTP/AERES

• Membre d'un pool d'experts

• Physique/Matière Condensée/Science des matériaux
  
• Sciences de l'environnement/Environnement et Société
  

The amount and characteristics of plastic waste in the environment are closely monitored with the regular expansion of their collection to smaller debris sizes and new compartments, such as atmosphere, soil and even food. These data, subject to constant re-evaluation, are necessary to assess the threat that plastic particles pose. In this article, we take stock of the most recent measurements of their size distribution on the ocean surface. We confront the observed size distribution to the commonly invoked degradation modes of plastics and propose a scenario that accounts for the quite unusual features of the size distribution of floating debris. We conclude that delamination alone could be a major mechanism explaining the large number of small microplastics (<150 μm) in the ocean.

The thin film of life that inhabits all plastics in the oceans, so-called “plastisphere,” has multiple effects on the fate and impacts of plastic in the marine environment. Here, we aimed to evaluate the relative influence of the plastic size, shape, chemical composition, and environmental changes such as a phytoplankton bloom in shaping the plastisphere abundance, diversity and activity. Polyethylene (PE) and polylactide acid (PLA) together with glass controls in the forms of meso-debris (18 mm diameter) and large-microplastics (LMP; 3 mm diameter), as well as small-microplastics (SMP) of 100 μm diameter with spherical or irregular shapes were immerged in seawater during 2 months. Results of bacterial abundance (confocal microscopy) and diversity (16S rRNA Illumina sequencing) indicated that the three classical biofilm colonization phases (primo-colonization after 3 days; growing phase after 10 days; maturation phase after 30 days) were not influenced by the size and the shape of the materials, even when a diatom bloom (Pseudo-nitzschia sp.) occurred after the first month of incubation. However, plastic size and shape had an effect on bacterial activity (3H leucine incorporation). Bacterial communities associated with the material of 100 μm size fraction showed the highest activity compared to all other material sizes. A mature biofilm developed within 30 days on all material types, with higher bacterial abundance on the plastics compared to glass, and distinct bacterial assemblages were detected on each material type. The diatom bloom event had a great impact on the plastisphere of all materials, resulting in a drastic change in diversity and activity. Our results showed that the plastic size and shape had relatively low influence on the plastisphere abundance, diversity, and activity, as compared to the plastic composition or the presence of a phytoplankton bloom.

Les comportements humains et l’utilisation intensive du plastique associés à une faible performance des systèmes de gestion ont engendré une accumulation massive de déchets plastiques dans le milieu marin où ils représentent 50 à 80 % de l’ensemble des déchets. Leur distribution, leurs comportements en mer, leur dégradation et leurs impacts découlent directement de leur composition et propriétés d’usage. Le présent article fait un bilan des connaissances et décrit les principaux enjeux scientifiques, environnementaux et socio-économiques, ainsi que les possibles solutions nécessaires à la gestion d’un problème environnemental devenu global.

Plastic pollution has become a worldwide concern. It was demonstrated that plastic breaks down to nanoscale particles in the environment, forming so-called nanoplastics. It is important to understand their ecological impact, but their structure is not elucidated. In this original work, we characterize the microstructure of oceanic polyethylene debris and compare them to the nonweathered objects. Cross-sections are analysed by several emergent mapping techniques. We highlight deep modifications of the debris within a layer a few hundred microns thick. The most 2 intense modifications are macromolecule oxidation and a considerable decrease in the molecular weight. The adsorption of organic pollutants and trace metals is also confined to this outer layer. Fragmentation of the oxidized layer of the plastic debris is the most likely source of nanoplastics. Consequently nanoplastic chemical nature differ greatly from plastics.