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Ecotoxic Effects of Microplastics from Compostable and Conventional Plastic Bags on the Growth and Reproduction of Eisenia andrei in a Sewage Sludge-Based Substrate
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Scientists found that tiny plastic bits from both regular plastic bags and "compostable" plastic bags harmed earthworm reproduction when mixed into soil made from sewage sludge. Regular plastic bags cut the number of baby worms by nearly half, showing that even plastics marketed as eco-friendly aren't necessarily harmless to soil life, an early warning sign for ecosystems humans depend on for food.
Compostable plastics have been proposed as a more sustainable alternative to conventional polyethylene for bags. However, very little is known about the effects of these plastics on soil biota. This study evaluated the ecotoxicological effects of microplastics (MPs) derived from a compostable bag, a commercial polyethylene bag (PE1), and virgin polyethylene resin (PE2) on the earthworm Eisenia andrei. To this end, the OECD standardized reproduction test was adapted by replacing artificial soil with sewage sludge as the exposure substrate. This approach incorporates the physicochemical complexity and pre-existing contaminants characteristic of a real environmental organic matrix, providing a more ecologically representative exposure scenario. A total of 480 individual earthworms were evaluated after exposure to three different concentrations (250, 750, and 1250 mg·kg−1) of each MP type. No significant differences in survival or adult biomass were observed among treatments. By contrast, reproductive parameters were particularly sensitive to exposure. Cocoon production was significantly altered (p = 0.001), with a 39.9% increase in the compostable-material treatment and reductions of up to 54.2% in the polyethylene treatments in comparison with the control. Likewise, the number of juveniles decreased significantly only in the groups exposed to polyethylene, with an average reduction of up to 34 individuals (44%, p < 0.001), and PE2 had the greatest inhibitory effect. The findings call into question the supposed biological inertness of virgin polymers and highlight the need to develop ecotoxicological assessment strategies based on environmentally realistic matrices that allow for an understanding of the polymer’s intrinsic effect and its interaction with pre-existing contaminants.
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Impacts of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on the earthworm Eisenia andrei
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Researchers compared the ecotoxicological effects of conventional low-density polyethylene microplastics and biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate microplastics on the earthworm Eisenia andrei using an eight-week reproduction test across seven concentration levels. Both polymer types affected earthworm survival, reproduction, and oxidative stress markers, raising questions about whether biodegradable alternatives pose similar soil ecosystem risks.
A comparison of the toxicity induced by the exposure to microplastics made of a conventional and a biodegradable polymer on the earthworm Eisenia fetida
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Researchers compared the toxicity of conventional versus biodegradable polymer microplastics on the earthworm Eisenia fetida, evaluating whether biodegradable alternatives present reduced ecotoxicological risk in soil environments where microplastic contamination is increasingly documented.
Impact of Conventional vs. Biodegradable and Compostable Microplastics on Eisenia fetida S.: An Ecopathological Approach
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Researchers compared the effects of biodegradable and conventional polyethylene microplastics on soil-dwelling earthworms and found that both types caused increased mortality, decreased biomass, and tissue damage after 14 days of exposure. The study suggests that biodegradable microplastics are not necessarily safer than conventional ones, and that detailed tissue analysis can reveal harmful sublethal effects not captured by standard toxicity tests.
Effects of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on earthworm Eisenia andrei in two generations
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Researchers exposed earthworms (Eisenia andrei) to conventional polyethylene and biodegradable PBAT mulching film microplastics across two generations (7 months) and found that both types caused reproductive and growth effects, with impacts accumulating across generations under environmentally relevant concentrations.
Effect of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on earthworms during vermicomposting process
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Researchers compared the effects of conventional polyethylene and biodegradable microplastics on earthworms during composting and found that both types caused stress at higher concentrations. Earthworm weight, reproduction, and survival were negatively affected by both plastic types, though biodegradable microplastics caused somewhat less harm. The findings suggest that biodegradable plastics are not entirely safe for soil organisms and can still disrupt composting processes.
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