Potential planetary health impacts of the airborne plastisphere

Changchao Li; Ling N. Jin; Michael S. Bank; Chunlan Fan; Michael R. Gillings; Tingting Zhao; Yong Han; Tian Chen; Meng Gao; Dong Zhu; Qinglin Chen; Guibing Zhu; Jie Wang; Lei Wang; Jian Liu; Xianzheng Yuan; Qishen Huang; Xiaofei Wang; Annika Jahnke; Janice Brahney; Steve Allen; Hans Peter H. Arp; Sonja Oberbeckmann; Melanie Bergmann; Stephen B. Pointing; Daizhou Zhang; Matthias C. Rillig

doi:10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101446

Potential planetary health impacts of the airborne plastisphere

Changchao Li^*
, Ling N. Jin^*
, Michael S. Bank
, Chunlan Fan
, Michael R. Gillings
, Tingting Zhao
, Yong Han
, Tian Chen
, Meng Gao
, Dong Zhu
, Qinglin Chen
, Guibing Zhu
, Jie Wang
, Lei Wang
, Jian Liu
, Xianzheng Yuan
, Qishen Huang
, Xiaofei Wang
, Annika Jahnke
, Janice Brahney

Steve Allen, Hans Peter H. Arp, Sonja Oberbeckmann, Melanie Bergmann, Stephen B. Pointing, Daizhou Zhang, Matthias C. Rillig^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health (City University of Hong Kong)

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

2 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

Microplastics are a ubiquitous yet long-overlooked component of airborne particulate matter. The surface of these plastic particles provides a unique niche for microorganisms, collectively known as the plastisphere. The plastisphere in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems harbors microbial communities with distinct compositions, structures, and functional profiles, posing potential planetary health risks. The characteristics, fate, and impacts of the microbiome associated with airborne microplastics, however, remain largely unknown. In this review, we fill the knowledge gaps by exploring how airborne microplastics serve as key habitats for microorganisms and the potential planetary health implications. We show that microplastics are expected to carry and sustain microorganisms over long distances and timescales in air, potentially dispersing pathogens, antibiotic-resistance genes, and other bioactive agents across ecosystems. These interactions may perturb ecological processes and biological health on a planetary scale. Interdisciplinary research and innovative methodologies are urgently required to better understand and mitigate the airborne plastisphere risks. © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Original language	English
Article number	101446
Journal	ONE EARTH
Volume	8
Issue number	10
Online published	10 Sept 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101446
Publication status	Published - 17 Oct 2025

Funding

This work was supported by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (15213922, 15201924, T24-508/22-N, C2002-22Y, and JLFS/E-502/24) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42275119 and 42407368). L.N.J. acknowledges the support of the Presidential Young Scholar Scheme (P0040336), the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development Joint Research Fund (P0042843), and the Research Centre for Nature-based Urban Infrastructure Solutions (P0053045) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. C.L. acknowledges the support of the Hong Kong RGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRFS2526-5S05) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship (P0044024). J.B. acknowledges NSF 2213624 and 2011910. M.C.R. conducted part of this work while visiting the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University through the Theoretical Sciences Visiting Program (TSVP) and PolyU Academy of Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) International Collaboration Scheme, respectively.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Research Keywords

airborne microplastics
the plastisphere
airborne microorganisms
atmospheric transport
biodiversity
climate impacts
plastic pollution
ecosystem functionmicrobial risks
One Health

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

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10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101446

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Cite this

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title = "Potential planetary health impacts of the airborne plastisphere",

abstract = "Microplastics are a ubiquitous yet long-overlooked component of airborne particulate matter. The surface of these plastic particles provides a unique niche for microorganisms, collectively known as the plastisphere. The plastisphere in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems harbors microbial communities with distinct compositions, structures, and functional profiles, posing potential planetary health risks. The characteristics, fate, and impacts of the microbiome associated with airborne microplastics, however, remain largely unknown. In this review, we fill the knowledge gaps by exploring how airborne microplastics serve as key habitats for microorganisms and the potential planetary health implications. We show that microplastics are expected to carry and sustain microorganisms over long distances and timescales in air, potentially dispersing pathogens, antibiotic-resistance genes, and other bioactive agents across ecosystems. These interactions may perturb ecological processes and biological health on a planetary scale. Interdisciplinary research and innovative methodologies are urgently required to better understand and mitigate the airborne plastisphere risks. {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. ",

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author = "Changchao Li and Jin, \{Ling N.\} and Bank, \{Michael S.\} and Chunlan Fan and Gillings, \{Michael R.\} and Tingting Zhao and Yong Han and Tian Chen and Meng Gao and Dong Zhu and Qinglin Chen and Guibing Zhu and Jie Wang and Lei Wang and Jian Liu and Xianzheng Yuan and Qishen Huang and Xiaofei Wang and Annika Jahnke and Janice Brahney and Steve Allen and Arp, \{Hans Peter H.\} and Sonja Oberbeckmann and Melanie Bergmann and Pointing, \{Stephen B.\} and Daizhou Zhang and Rillig, \{Matthias C.\}",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

day = "17",

doi = "10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101446",

language = "English",

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Li, C, Jin, LN, Bank, MS, Fan, C, Gillings, MR, Zhao, T, Han, Y, Chen, T, Gao, M, Zhu, D, Chen, Q, Zhu, G, Wang, J, Wang, L, Liu, J, Yuan, X, Huang, Q, Wang, X, Jahnke, A, Brahney, J, Allen, S, Arp, HPH, Oberbeckmann, S, Bergmann, M, Pointing, SB, Zhang, D & Rillig, MC 2025, 'Potential planetary health impacts of the airborne plastisphere', ONE EARTH, vol. 8, no. 10, 101446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101446

TY - JOUR

T1 - Potential planetary health impacts of the airborne plastisphere

AU - Li, Changchao

AU - Jin, Ling N.

AU - Bank, Michael S.

AU - Fan, Chunlan

AU - Gillings, Michael R.

AU - Zhao, Tingting

AU - Han, Yong

AU - Chen, Tian

AU - Gao, Meng

AU - Zhu, Dong

AU - Chen, Qinglin

AU - Zhu, Guibing

AU - Wang, Jie

AU - Wang, Lei

AU - Liu, Jian

AU - Yuan, Xianzheng

AU - Huang, Qishen

AU - Wang, Xiaofei

AU - Jahnke, Annika

AU - Brahney, Janice

AU - Allen, Steve

AU - Arp, Hans Peter H.

AU - Oberbeckmann, Sonja

AU - Bergmann, Melanie

AU - Pointing, Stephen B.

AU - Zhang, Daizhou

AU - Rillig, Matthias C.

PY - 2025/10/17

Y1 - 2025/10/17

N2 - Microplastics are a ubiquitous yet long-overlooked component of airborne particulate matter. The surface of these plastic particles provides a unique niche for microorganisms, collectively known as the plastisphere. The plastisphere in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems harbors microbial communities with distinct compositions, structures, and functional profiles, posing potential planetary health risks. The characteristics, fate, and impacts of the microbiome associated with airborne microplastics, however, remain largely unknown. In this review, we fill the knowledge gaps by exploring how airborne microplastics serve as key habitats for microorganisms and the potential planetary health implications. We show that microplastics are expected to carry and sustain microorganisms over long distances and timescales in air, potentially dispersing pathogens, antibiotic-resistance genes, and other bioactive agents across ecosystems. These interactions may perturb ecological processes and biological health on a planetary scale. Interdisciplinary research and innovative methodologies are urgently required to better understand and mitigate the airborne plastisphere risks. © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.

AB - Microplastics are a ubiquitous yet long-overlooked component of airborne particulate matter. The surface of these plastic particles provides a unique niche for microorganisms, collectively known as the plastisphere. The plastisphere in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems harbors microbial communities with distinct compositions, structures, and functional profiles, posing potential planetary health risks. The characteristics, fate, and impacts of the microbiome associated with airborne microplastics, however, remain largely unknown. In this review, we fill the knowledge gaps by exploring how airborne microplastics serve as key habitats for microorganisms and the potential planetary health implications. We show that microplastics are expected to carry and sustain microorganisms over long distances and timescales in air, potentially dispersing pathogens, antibiotic-resistance genes, and other bioactive agents across ecosystems. These interactions may perturb ecological processes and biological health on a planetary scale. Interdisciplinary research and innovative methodologies are urgently required to better understand and mitigate the airborne plastisphere risks. © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.

KW - airborne microplastics

KW - the plastisphere

KW - airborne microorganisms

KW - atmospheric transport

KW - biodiversity

KW - climate impacts

KW - plastic pollution

KW - ecosystem functionmicrobial risks

KW - One Health

UR - https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001604410300001

U2 - 10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101446

DO - 10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101446

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 2590-3330

VL - 8

JO - ONE EARTH

JF - ONE EARTH

IS - 10

M1 - 101446

ER -

Potential planetary health impacts of the airborne plastisphere

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

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TBRS-ExtU-Lead: Unravelling the Black Box between Air Pollution and Public Health for Transformative Air Quality Management

TBRS-ExtU-Lead: Unravelling the Black Box between Air Pollution and Public Health for Transformative Air Quality Management

Cite this

Potential planetary health impacts of the airborne plastisphere

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

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Projects

TBRS-ExtU-Lead: Unravelling the Black Box between Air Pollution and Public Health for Transformative Air Quality Management

TBRS-ExtU-Lead: Unravelling the Black Box between Air Pollution and Public Health for Transformative Air Quality Management

Cite this