Microbiology of constructed wetland sediment under microplastic and heavy metal stress
The study explored the cross-contamination influence of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Pb) and aged polyester and polyethylene microplastics in batch fed constructed wetlands. Rhizosphere sediment samples were taken at the beginning and the end of the experiment to provide information the direction of microbiome development. Microplastic did show to favor species usually found in the plastisphere and connected to its degradation. Temporal and treatment changes were observed.