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Combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and tire antioxidant 6PPD on earthworm (Eisenia fetida): Oxidative stress and gut microbiota
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Earthworms exposed to microplastics and the tire chemical 6PPD together in soil for 28 days showed signs of stress, including damaged skin and gut tissue and higher levels of stress-related enzymes. The combination also altered the earthworms' gut bacteria, disrupting their networks and metabolism.
Microplastics (MPs, < 5 mm) and tire rubber antioxidant N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) are the two major environmental pollutants, which have posed the potential threat to terrestrial ecosystem and raised wide concerns. In this study, the individual and combined toxicological impacts of aged polyethylene MPs (PE-MPs) and 6PPD on the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) were systematically evaluated via 28-day soil exposure experiment. Results depicted that the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde level in T5 group (low contents of combined exposure) were significantly higher than that in CK, which was increased by 29.83%, 88.57%, and 138.84%, respectively. Histopathological analysis further confirmed concomitant structural damage to the earthworm epidermis and intestine. Besides, high-throughput sequencing revealed that co-contamination substantially reshaped the gut microbiota. Notably, low-concentration combined exposure severely simplified the microbial co-occurrence network, reducing its complexity and ecological stability. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional profiling indicated that metabolic pathways, particularly carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, were significantly disrupted, potentially compromising bacterial survival and host-microbe homeostasis. These findings highlight the non-linear toxic effects of MP-additive mixtures on soil fauna and provide critical insights for the ecological risk assessment of terrestrial environments.
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Understanding the harmful effects of polyethylene microplastics on Eisenia fetida: A toxicological evaluation
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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.
Two types of microplastics (polystyrene-HBCD and car tire abrasion) affect oxidative stress-related biomarkers in earthworm Eisenia andrei in a time-dependent manner
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Researchers studied the effects of two types of microplastics — polystyrene containing the flame retardant HBCD and car tire abrasion particles — on oxidative stress biomarkers in earthworms over time. The study found that both microplastic types affected oxidative stress responses in a time-dependent manner, with different patterns of antioxidant enzyme activity. The results suggest that microplastic composition and exposure duration are important factors in determining their impact on soil organisms.
Oxidative stress, energy metabolism and molecular responses of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) exposed to low-density polyethylene microplastics
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Researchers exposed earthworms to various concentrations of low-density polyethylene microplastics for 28 days and measured oxidative stress, energy metabolism, and molecular responses. The study found dose-dependent increases in oxidative damage markers and alterations in energy reserves, suggesting that microplastic contamination in soils can trigger measurable physiological stress in soil invertebrates.
Effect of polyethylene microplastics on tebuconazole bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, and intestinal bacterial community in earthworms
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Researchers exposed earthworms to polyethylene microplastics of different sizes alongside a common fungicide and found that smaller microplastics caused the most severe oxidative stress and DNA damage. The microplastics also changed how much fungicide accumulated in the earthworms and disrupted their gut bacteria. This matters because earthworms are essential for soil health, and these effects could ripple through agricultural ecosystems that produce our food.
Combined and Individual Effects of Tire Wear Particles and Microplastic Fibers on Growth and Oxidative Stress in the Earthworm Eisenia fetida
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Scientists exposed earthworms to tiny bits of tire debris and plastic fibers, the kind that wash off roads and synthetic clothing into soil, and found these pollutants stunted the worms' growth and caused cellular stress, especially when combined. Since earthworms are essential for healthy soil that grows our food, this research is an early warning sign that these common pollutants could be quietly disrupting the ecosystems we depend on, even though the direct impact on humans isn't yet fully understood.
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