We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic ingestion induces changes in coelomocyte composition of Eisenia fetida
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists fed earthworms tiny plastic bits and found it damaged their immune cells, especially when combined with a common plastic additive. While this study focused on soil worms, not humans, it's a reminder that microplastics can harm living cells and that added chemicals may make plastic pollution even more toxic, an important clue as researchers study how microplastics might affect our own bodies.
The earthworm Eisenia fetida is a widely used model organism for environmental toxicity assessment, including microplastic particles (MPP). Impacts of MPP at the organism level have been extensively documented, while effects on the cellular level and in particular the immune system of E. fetida are less well understood. Here we exposed earthworms outside soil for six days to food pellets containing no MPP (mock treatment), 10% (w/w) pure polystyrene (PS) MPP (25–75 μm), or 10% (w/w) PS MPP supplemented with 0.5% (w/w) of the antioxidant Irgafos 168 (PS Irgafos ). Immune cells (coelomocytes) were isolated from E. fetida using a non-invasive isolation method, and their number, viability, and subpopulation distribution (amoebocytes and eleocytes) were assessed by flow cytometry. The total number of isolated cells was not affected by MPP, while coelomocyte viability was significantly reduced after PS and PS Irgafos ingestion compared to mock-treated worms. PS Irgafos ingestion further decreased the number of living cells per mg fresh weight compared to PS ingestion. Ex vivo analysis of coelomocyte viability confirmed an enhanced toxicity of PS Irgafos compared to PS. Our findings show that MPP and their additives cause physiological changes and alter immune cell distribution compared to mock-treated worms, posing potential risks to soil invertebrates.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic ingestion induces changes in coelomocyte composition of Eisenia fetida
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed earthworms to polystyrene microplastics with and without the additive Irgafos and found that while total immune cell counts were unchanged, coelomocyte viability dropped significantly—and the additive-loaded particles caused greater cell death than plain polystyrene, indicating plastic chemical additives compound immune stress in soil invertebrates.
Microplastic Moves Pollutants and Additives to Worms, Reducing Functions Linked to Health and Biodiversity
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed lugworms to sediment containing 5% microplastic pre-loaded with pollutants and plastic additives, confirming that ingested microplastic transfers chemicals into gut tissue — with nonylphenol uptake from PVC reducing immune cell function by over 60% and triclosan from PVC causing sediment-engineering impairment and mortality exceeding 55%.
Histopathological and molecular effects of microplastics in Eisenia andrei Bouché
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed earthworms to polyethylene microplastics in soil and examined the effects on their tissues and gene expression. They found that microplastic exposure caused visible damage to the earthworms' gut lining and skin, and altered the activity of genes involved in stress response and immune function. The study provides some of the first evidence that microplastics can harm soil organisms at both the tissue and molecular level.
Effect of Microplastic Exposure on Earthworms Eisenia Fetida and Eudrilus Eugeniae
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists exposed earthworms to microplastics (tiny plastic particles) and found they lost weight, reproduced less, and suffered damage to their skin and muscles. While this study looked at soil health rather than humans directly, it matters because earthworms are essential for healthy soil that grows our food—and it adds to growing evidence that microplastics, which are now found throughout our environment and food chain, can harm living organisms at a biological level.
Understanding the harmful effects of polyethylene microplastics on Eisenia fetida: A toxicological evaluation
AI summary Read the abstract
Earthworms (Eisenia fetida) exposed to increasing concentrations of polyethylene microplastics in soil showed lower body weight, reduced reproductive output, and disrupted antioxidant defenses — with oxidative stress markers climbing nearly 1.3-fold at the highest dose. These findings confirm that microplastic pollution degrades soil ecosystem health at concentrations that could plausibly occur in contaminated agricultural land.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.