Dynamics of fouling of plastic waste fragments by microorganisms in the Gulf of Finland

Abstract

In recent years, the problem of the aquatic environment pollution with synthetic polymers - plastic and microplastics - has become more urgent than ever, which causes an increasing interest of the scientific community in this topic, both in our country and abroad. The development of organic synthesis chemistry at the beginning of the last century led to the emergence of synthetic polymers – plastics; the chemical properties of plastic, making it an inexpensive, durable, and useful material, led to its widespread, mass distribution, but they are also the cause of difficulties with its disposal – the decay, decomposition, and disposal of many types of plastic takes decades, which much lower than the production rate of new plastic. As it is known, plastics are materials that are synthetic or natural high-molecular compounds (polymers); the term “microplastic” refers to particles of synthetic polymers or plastic copolymers (less than 5 microns), they are insoluble in water and non-degradable. Such characteristics of microplastic components as the area, the particle surface relief, the type of polymer will affect the biofilm formation rate. This indicator also is influenced by the flow rate, the bio-productivity of the waters, and the position of the particles in the water column.