RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Bacterial colonization of microplastics at the beaches of an oceanic island, Tenerife, Canary Islands. A1 Díaz Peña, Francisco Javier A1 Hernández Sánchez, Cintia A1 Pestana Ríos, Ángel Antonio A1 Villanova Solana, Cristina A1 Domínguez Hernández, Cristopher A1 Rodríguez Álvarez, Cristobalina A1 Lecuona, María A1 Arías, Ángeles K1 microorganisms K1 microplastics K1 beach K1 public health K1 emerging pathogenic microorganisms AB Isolated systems, such as oceanic islands, are increasingly experiencing important problems related to microplastic debris on their beaches. The formation of microbial biofilm on the surface of microplastics present in marine environments provides potential facilities for microorganisms to survive under the biofilm. Moreover, microplastics act as a vehicle for the dispersion of pathogenic organisms, constituting a new route of exposure for humans. (2) In this study, the microbial content (FIO and Vibrio spp. And Staphylococcus aureus) of microplastics (fragments and pellets) collected from seven beaches of the oceanic island of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands (Spain), was determined. (3)Results showed that Escherichiacoli was present in 57.1% of the fragments and 28.5%of the pellets studied. In the case of intestinal Enterococci, 85.7% of the fragments and 57.1% of the pellets tested positive for this parameter. Finally, 100% of the fragments and 42.8% of the pellets analyzed from the different beaches contained Vibrio spp. (4)This study shows that microplastics act as reservoirs of microorganisms that can increase the presence of bacteria indicating faecal and pathogenic contamination in bathing areas. YR 2023 FD 2023 LK http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/35942 UL http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/35942 LA en NO https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20053951 DS Repositorio institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna RD 31-oct-2024