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Distinct responses of Caenorhabditis elegans to polyethylene microplastics and plant secondary metabolites
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Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics and plant-derived chemical compounds individually and together affect the roundworm C. elegans, a common soil organism. They found that while the plant compounds reduced worm reproduction and lifespan, microplastics had milder individual effects but modified the toxicity of the plant chemicals when combined. The study reveals that in real soil environments, the interactions between microplastics and natural plant chemicals create complex toxicity patterns.
Soil worms are among the most abundant and functionally diverse soil animals. However, they have been largely overlooked in studies on microplastic (MP) toxicity. MPs and plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) are ubiquitous in soil due to plant litter decomposition and heavy MP contamination, inevitably interacting and exerting combined toxicity on soil organisms. However, little research has been conducted on their joint effects. This study investigates the individual and combined toxic effects of polyethylene (PE) MPs and three PSMs (glycyrrhizic acid, tannic acid, and matrine) on the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Physiological and biochemical responses were assessed using fluorescence microscopy, image analysis, and statistical methods. After 42 h of exposure to PE MPs and/or PSMs, worm growth and development were negatively impacted. Under experimental conditions, matrine and PE MPs synergistically inhibited worm growth, exacerbated neurological damage, and induced oxidative stress. In contrast, glycyrrhizic acid and tannic acid alleviated PE MP-induced growth inhibition, mitigated oxidative stress, and demonstrated antioxidant properties that counteracted oxidative damage. This study offers new insights into the combined effects of MPs and PSMs in soil ecosystems, contributing to ecological risk assessments and pollution management strategies.
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Combined toxicity of organophosphate flame retardants and polyethylene microplastics on Eisenia fetida: Biochemical and molecular insights
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Researchers exposed earthworms to polyethylene microplastics, chlorinated flame retardants, and their combinations to assess combined toxicity effects. They found that the most toxic flame retardant (TDCPP) had its effects reduced when combined with microplastics, likely because the plastics absorbed the chemical and lowered its bioavailability. In contrast, microplastics enhanced the toxicity of another flame retardant (TCPP), demonstrating that microplastics can act as both carriers and modulators of co-contaminant toxicity in soil ecosystems.
Accumulation of microplastics and Tcep pollutants in agricultural soil: Exploring the links between metabolites and gut microbiota in earthworm homeostasis
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Researchers investigated the co-occurrence of polyethylene microplastics and the flame retardant TCEP in agricultural soils and their combined effects on earthworm health. The study found that co-exposure disrupted earthworm gut microbiota and metabolic homeostasis, suggesting that the interaction between microplastics and chemical additives in agricultural soil may pose greater ecological risks than either contaminant alone.
Microplastics Reduce the Negative Effects of Litter-Derived Plant Secondary Metabolites on Nematodes in Soil
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Researchers found that microplastics in soil reduced the toxic effects of plant-derived chemicals (phenolic compounds from leaf litter) on soil nematodes. The microplastics appeared to absorb the plant chemicals, reducing their bioavailability to the worms. This shows that microplastics can change soil chemistry in unexpected ways, potentially altering how soil ecosystems function.
Impacts of microplastics and heavy metals on the earthworm Eisenia foetida and on soil organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus
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Researchers assessed the combined effects of polypropylene microplastics and a heavy metal mixture (copper, chromium, and zinc) on the earthworm Eisenia foetida and on soil organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling. The study found that co-contamination exacerbated adverse effects on earthworm survival and soil nutrient dynamics compared to single-pollutant exposures, highlighting synergistic risks of combined microplastic and metal pollution in terrestrial ecosystems.
Ecological risk of microplastics in soil ecosystem: Insights from nematodes
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Lab tests with roundworms (including C. elegans) and field studies of riverbank soils along the Yangtze examined how microplastics affect soil life. Microplastics harmed worms above certain levels, changed their behavior, and altered soil microbial activity and energy flow, with effects depending on plastic type, aging and environmental conditions.
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