Pollution by wastewater discharges: A review on microorganism–microplastic interactions and their possible environmental risks in Colombian coastal waters

Abstract

Wastewater discharges into aquatic ecosystems introduce microplastics and pathogenic microorganisms to the aquatic ecosystems, affecting the environmental quality and possibly representing a risk to biodiversity and human health. The aims of this review were: (i) to analyze the impacts of wastewater discharges on the sanitary quality of Colombian coastal waters, and (ii) to examine the possible environmental risks of the interactions between microorganisms and microplastics. During 2021, within the framework of the Colombian marine environmental monitoring, thermotolerant coliforms-CTE and fecal enterococci-EFE were measured in surface seawater samples at 128 stations, with concentrations of 2–704 000 NMP of CTE/100 mL and 1 –3360 UFC of EFE/100 mL. The municipalities with the greatest impact on the sanitary quality of the seawater were Santa Marta in the Caribbean and Tumaco in the Pacific. As related to the previous, 84 documents were reviewed on microbiological pollution and microorganism-microplastic interactions in coastal waters published between 2005 and February 2021, which further helped to examine methodological aspects, the most common microbial groups, microorganism-microplastic interactions and the ensuing environmental risks. In Colombia there are potential risks associated with microbiological and microplastic pollution in coastal waters that require attention, which includes improving waste management; research and monitoring of microbial communities, their resistance and virulence genes; and gaining knowledge on the interactions of such communities with microplastics and other organisms of commercial importance.