Effects of microplastics on nutrient cycling and greenhouse gas emissions
Project code: Z1-60166 (postdoctoral project)
Head: doc. dr. Ula Rozman
Research group members: doc. dr. Ula Rozman
Duration: 1.1.2025 - 31.12.2026
Most research to date has mainly focused on monitoring and assessing the direct effects of microplastics on biota and humans, while the indirect effects on biogeochemical cycles and greenhouse gas emissions have been overlooked and represent the largest gap in knowledge about microplastics in the environment. Biogeochemical cycles include natural processes of consumption and transformation of various forms of elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus that occur in individual segments of the ecosystem but are linked to the global nutrient cycle that operates through biotic and abiotic mechanisms.
The project aims to investigate the impact of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on the bioavailability of nutrients, their conversion processes, and greenhouse gas emissions. The key to this lies in the selection and preparation of environmentally relevant microplastics (WP1). The effects on the nutrient cycling will be systematically investigated, focusing on both abiotic and biotic effects by determining the adsorption of different forms of nutrients on microplastics (WP2). In the second part of the project, the impact of microplastics on greenhouse gas emissions will be investigated (W3).
Results:
Scientific articles:
1. U. Rozman, A. Fazlić, L. Brunnbauer, J. Novak, A. Jemec Kokalj, J. Imperl, J. Kučerík, P. Procházková, S. Federici, R. Hurley, A. Sever Škapin, P. Modlitbová, P. Pořízka, J. Kaiser, A. Limbeck, G. Kalčíková. Investigating aquatic biodegradation and changes in the properties of pristine and UV-irradiated microplastics from conventional and biodegradable agricultural plastics. Environmental pollution, vol. 376, 126408, DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126408. [COBISS.SI-ID 236760835].
2. B. Klun, M. Starin, J. Novak, U. Rozman, N. Čelan Korošin, G. Binda, G. Kalčíková. Biofilm formation on polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics in freshwater: influence of environmental factors. Journal of environmental chemical engineering, vol. 13(5), 118689, DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2025.118689. [COBISS.SI-ID 247024131].
3. P. Modlitbová, D. Kočenda, D. Holub, M. Starin, J. Novak, U. Rozman, G. Kalčíková, L. Brunnbauer, A. Limbeck, P. Pořízka, J. Kaiser. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for direct analysis of pristine and environmentally aged microplastics: a PCA-based approach. Spectrochimica acta. Part B, Atomic spectroscopy, vol. 235, 107353, DOI: 10.1016/j.sab.2025.107353. [COBISS.SI-ID 255659779].
Conference contributions:
1. U. Rozman, M. Starin, S. Fliker, G. Kalčíková. Biofouling of microplastics surfaces alters microplastic–nutrient interactions in aquatic environments: [lecture]. V: KALČÍKOVÁ, Gabriela (ur.), et al. MICROPLASTICdays: Beyond boundaries in microplastic research: 3-5 February 2026, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Ljubljana, Slovenia: book of abstracts. Ljubljana: Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, 2026. [COBISS.SI-ID 269763331].
2. U. Rozman, M. Starin, B. Klun, P. Jamnik, G. Kalčíková. Adsorption of nutrients on conventional and biodegradable plastic films: poster presentation at PRIORITY CA Final Conference, 2-5 September 2025, Leoben, Austria. [COBISS.SI-ID 271228931].
3. U. Rozman, G. Kalčíková. From surface to sink: how biofilm formation alters microplastic behaviour and interactions: [oral presentation]. V: MÁDI, Lenka (ur.). 5th AMACEE Conference: International Symposium on Advanced Measurement, Analysis and Control for Energy and Environment: Brno, Czech republic, August 26th - August 28th, 2025. Brno: VUTIUM, 2025. [COBISS.SI-ID 248905987].
4. U. Rozman, A. Jemec Kokalj, G. Conventional and biodegradable microplastics influence nutrient cycling in the aquatic environment. V: Innovation for tomorrow: progress in safe and sustainable concepts: SETAC 35th Annual Meeting: 11-15 May 2025, Vienna, Austria: abstract book. Brussels: SETAC Europe, cop. 2025. Str. 159-160. [COBISS.SI-ID 238296323].
Invited lecture at foreign university
1. U. Rozman. Biofilm on microplastics: its role in environmental fate and impact: lecture at the College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, China, on September 29, 2025. [COBISS.SI-ID 252847875].