Investigation of the Pathogenicity of Microplastics in Biofilms: Environmental Risk Analysis with Hydrodynamic Transport Models

Globally, approximately 348 million tons of plastic are reportedly produced annually. This situation has triggered a growing global microplastic pollution, transforming it into one of the most significant environmental problems facing the world today. Considered among the most worrying pollutants, microplastics continue to accumulate at an increasing rate in aquatic ecosystems, creating a new surface area for biofilm formation and making them a significant vector of pollutants in aquatic systems. The higher diversity of microorganisms adhering to microplastics compared to the surrounding aquatic environment, and their transport over long distances via surface runoff, can increase the toxic potential in aquatic ecosystems. The biofilm-coated nature of microplastics, which are ubiquitous in ecosystems, can be perceived as food by organisms and ingested or unintentionally taken in with food. Thus, pathogenic microorganisms on the surface of microplastics can directly reach aquatic organisms and then humans through the food web. Within the scope of this project, a risk assessment will be conducted on potential pathogens attached to microplastics in the Melen Basin, which is the most important surface water unit of Düzce province and also forms the main source of the Istanbul Drinking Water Project, one of Türkiye's largest water supply projects aimed at meeting Istanbul's drinking water needs.