The case in summary Researchers at the Veterinary College have found disease-causing bacteria such as E.coli and Listeria as well as noro- and adenovirus on plastic in the Lierelva, Norway’s most polluted river. The bacteria can potentially be transported over larger areas via the plastic pollution, which can be a problem for human health. The water from the Lierelva is used to irrigate fruit and vegetable production, which can increase the risk of the bacteria spreading. The researchers are now working on analyzes of antibiotic resistance genes from the bacteria that have stuck to the pieces of plastic. The Lierelva landowners’ association now promises clean-up and has sent out a letter to all 115 members about a planned clean-up effort. The researchers emphasize that food safety in Norway is strong and that producers follow strict rules, but that plastic pollution is an additional aspect of the problem. – E.coli, Listeria – and here, Klebsiella. And in every tiny dot, there are millions of bacteria, explains Ingun Lund Witsø and holds out containers with bacteria samples. – All this was found on plastic in Lierelva, she adds. Ingun Lund Witsø, researcher at the Veterinary College, shows bacteria found on the plastic in Lierelva. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news This summer, a report concluded that the river in Buskerud is the country’s most polluted. The water from the Lierelva is used to irrigate the large fruit and vegetable production in the area. – Is it a potential problem? – It is a risk. The bacteria are there. If you ingest it, you can get diarrhea and vomiting, says the researcher. The bacteria are transported over larger areas. Witsø is a researcher with a doctorate in microbiology at the Norwegian Veterinary School, in the food safety department. In October, she and her colleagues finish a four-year project, Plastpath. They have researched whether plastic pollution can contribute to the spread of food- and water-borne bacteria and viruses – and whether this can cause more disease in humans. – We set out several pieces of plastic on stands in the Lierelva, just below the water’s surface, for up to one month. Analyzed the findings and mapped the DNA. That way we can tell which bacteria are there, explains Witsø. The stand with the plastic pieces was attached to a blower to ensure that the plastic was placed on the surface of the water in the Lierelva. Photo: Ingun Lund Witzø It turns out that disease-causing bacteria such as E.coli and Listeria stick to plastic. They have also found norovirus and adenovirus on the plastic. – It can be a problem considering that dangerous bacteria are transported over large areas, for example in a river or in the sea, says the researcher. The findings are described in more detail in this scientific article in the journal Environmental Microbiology. Plastpath Research project on plastic pollution can help spread food- and water-borne bacteria and viruses, and cause more disease in people. Participants at the Veterinary College are researcher Ingun Lund Witsø, professor Marina Aspholm, professor Mette Myrmel, associate professor Ann-Katrin Llarena, research student Andreas Halvor Sedin, research student Hauk Larssønn Holten, PhD student Amulya Baral, researcher Letemichael Negash Welekidan and professor Yngvild Wasteson (project manager) . The project is described as unique in the Nordic context. The project is carried out at the Department of Food Safety, Veterinary College, Norwegian University of the Environment and Life Sciences. We are now working on analyzes of antibiotic resistance genes from all the bacteria that have stuck to the pieces of plastic. The experiments are not finished and the results are therefore not clear either, but they see that they can find different viruses at several levels beyond the digestion model when these have initially been part of a bacteria-virus-plastic community. The project is mainly financed by the Research Council of Norway, but has also received support from SmartPlast, one of NMBU’s Sustainability Arenas. Hitchhiking bacteria in a protected environment The research project’s starting point was that “it is well known that many bacteria and viruses like to stick to surfaces”, such as plastic. Professor Yngvild Wasteson at NMBU is the project leader for the plastics research. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news – Our hypothesis was thus that disease-causing bacteria and viruses in the river water would be able to attach to plastic particles in the river, and in a protected form “hitchhike” with these so that they survive better over longer distances and for a longer time, says Professor Yngvild Wasteson at the Norwegian University of Environmental and Life Sciences (NMBU). The researchers say they have “fairly clear indications” that certain bacteria that have attached themselves to plastic simply have an effect on how they behave further: On plastic, the bacteria are more protected against external factors such as water currents and UV light. In summary: The chance of survival is greater. – They are better protected against cleaning agents and antibiotics. They are more difficult to get rid of simply. So yes, they have an advantage by sticking to plastic, says Ingun Lund Witsø. – Plastic attracts bacteria and viruses, which form bacterial communities or cities. This is called biofilm, explains Ingun Lund Witsø as she analyzes samples in the “lab”. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news Watering fruit and vegetables with water from the Lierelva The findings of bacteria on plastic do not surprise Ingun Lund Witsø, who says that plastic attracts bacteria and viruses. – But what makes this special is that the water from the Lierelva is used to irrigate fruit and vegetable production, she says. Ingun Lund Witsø and her colleagues have found several types of bacteria and viruses stuck to the plastic in Lierelva. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news The researchers are now working on analyzes of antibiotic resistance genes from the bacteria that have stuck to the pieces of plastic. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news We were also interested in studying whether such exposure to plastic could have an impact on how the microbes behave in our digestive system, says Professor Yngvild Wasteson. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news The bacteria and viruses are stored at minus 80 degrees. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news The 46 kilometer long river meanders through the very fertile Lierdalen. Known to many as the “strawberry village”, which also perhaps brings to mind apples and salad. This summer, the Lierelva ran away with the “victory” in the ranking of Norway’s most polluted river. – I think it’s embarrassing. The Lierelva is an important source of water for agriculture, recreation and fishing. It needs to be cleaned up, says Tove Hofstad, group leader for Lier Venstre and county council representative for Viken Venstre. Tove Hofstad is group leader for Lier Venstre. Photo: Anders Haualand / news Mayor of Lier, Kjetil Kivle (H), says it is no surprise that there is plastic pollution along the Lierelva, but that the extent is greater than anyone has been aware of. – Why hasn’t anything been done before? – I think the focus has been on avoiding new pollution. Now we must intensify our work on old environmental sins. Kjetil Kivle (H) is mayor of Lier. Photo: Anders Haualand / news – This is another example that shows why we must fight against plastic pollution, says State Secretary Kjersti Bjørnstad (Sp) in the Ministry of Climate and Environment about the findings in Lierelva. Read the full response below: Response from the Ministry of Climate and the Environment – It is a big problem. Although it is forbidden to litter, we unfortunately see that plastic and other rubbish end up in rivers and out in nature, says Kjersti Bjørnstad (Sp), State Secretary in the Ministry of Climate and Environment about the findings in Lierelva. She says that the government is working both nationally and internationally to limit plastic pollution. – For example, we have entered into a plastic partnership with the parties in the business world to reduce the consumption of disposable food containers for fast food or takeaway food. Globally, Norway is a driving force in the negotiations for an ambitious international plastic agreement. It’s about limiting the amount of plastic we use, and ensuring that the plastic we use is sustainable and can be reused or that the materials are recycled. – Who is responsible for cleaning up? – It is the person who litters who is responsible for cleaning up. The municipalities are responsible for following up littering cases in their municipality. State Secretary Kjersti Bjørnstad says Norway is driving the negotiations on a new, global plastics agreement. Photo: TROND ISAKSEN / © PHOTO TROND ISAKSEN Only 20 percent is recycled. Witsø emphasizes that food safety in Norway is strong and that producers follow strict rules. This, combined with normal consumer hygiene, means the risk of disease should not be high. Nevertheless. – When we know how much plastic is littered, and that it can carry dangerous microorganisms, is an additional aspect of that problem. People often think that the plastic and microplastics are what are dangerous, but it is good to know that it carries with it things that can potentially be a problem, says Witsø. Plastic waste Each year, the world produces approximately 430 million tonnes of plastic, and production has increased in recent years. Only 20 percent is recycled. The rest ends up in waterways, landfills, nature and the world’s oceans. If the current trend continues, it is estimated that approximately 12,000 million tonnes of plastic waste will be floating in nature in 2050. (Source: ScienceDirect, Environmental Pollution, 2022) – Nothing to brag about Knut Birkeland is the leader of the Lierelva landowners association. When the news that the Lierelva is the country’s most polluted came, his first thought was: – I don’t quite recognize myself. It is claimed that we will have 5300 meters of plastic lying on the river’s edge. It’s brutal. Knut Birkeland is the leader of the Lierelva landowners association. He found some plastic when he took news on a trip along the river, and promises to clean it up. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news – You don’t recognize yourself in the report? – No. I have a little doubt. The plastic they have seen and measured is, among other things, from two fillings. There are 1,500 meters of plastic. If we take them away, we are in fourth place. Nothing to brag about either, but it shows the difference in the report. Birkeland points out that today’s farmers are very careful about pollution, and that the so-called “old fun” dates from the 80s and before that time. – Today’s farmers are very aware of that. But I’ve had my own blisters, including the flood in 2007. I didn’t think the river would rise that high. Then the round balls disappeared. Lierelva will be removed from the list – What about the findings of viruses and bacteria that live more protected on plastic? – I farm organically and am very happy with everything that can be found from bacteria. It’s the engine in everything, it’s natural. All the water we drink has been treated with light. The best thing we have is the sun. It kills bacteria. We deliver water samples all the time, reassures Birkeland. – So you disagree with the researchers? – Yes. I don’t see any problem with a bit of bacteria sticking to the plastic. Viruses and bacteria are already here. That it is here on the plastic is now one thing. It would be here anyway. Knut Birkeland and the landowners will clean up along the Lierelva. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news – But the plastic should not be here. Who is responsible for cleaning up? – It is the individual landowner. Birkeland has sent out a letter to all 115 members stating that they will now have to clean up. The plan is to start the clean-up in the autumn. He says that where the conditions are demanding along the river, help from the public is needed. – Some places are difficult to get to, there is quicksand. It is also expensive to remove the fillings. But we take responsibility for the clean-up, together with the Farmers’ Association and the Agricultural Office. Everyone agrees: We’re going off the list! Published 04/09/2024, at 19.43
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Plastic in the Lierelva attracts bacteria and viruses – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
