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Survival and reproduction effects of microplastics from three agricultural mulching films on Folsomia candida, Sinella curviseta, Heteromurus nitidus and Ceratophysella denticulata (Collembola)
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Scientists tested whether microplastics from three types of agricultural plastic films affect the survival and reproduction of four species of springtails, tiny soil-dwelling arthropods. Across all plastic types, including biodegradable starch-blend films and conventional polyethylene, no dose-dependent harmful effects were observed even at the highest concentrations tested. The results suggest that these agricultural microplastics may pose limited direct toxicity risk to springtail populations in soil.
An estimated 467 kt of plastic used in agriculture annually end up in European soils, potentially breaking down into secondary microplastics (MPs). Not much is known about the possible effects of these MPs on organisms residing in the soil. To properly assess their environmental risk, experimental data is needed on the toxicity of MPs to the survival and reproduction of model organisms. This study aimed at assessing the toxicity of three MP types derived from commonly used agricultural plastics to different Collembola species, representing an important and highly diverse class of soil arthropods. Starch- polybutadiene adipate terephthalate blend (starch-PBAT blend) MPs were produced from mulching films that were artificially aged by mechanical recycling. MPs were also made from virgin low density polyethylene (LDPE) mulching films and from linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) films that underwent the same mechanical recycling process as the starch-PBAT blend films. Four Collembola species were tested: Folsomia candida, Sinella curviseta, Heteromurus nitidus and Ceratophysella denticulata, representing epedaphic, hemiedaphic and euedaphic, as well as sexually reproducing and parthenogenetic species. Each species was exposed in Lufa 2.2 soil spiked with nine MP concentrations: 0.0016, 0.008, 0.04, 0.2, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 % (w/w dry soil) and a control without additional MPs added to the soil. No dose-dependent effects were found for any of the exposed organisms, to any of the MPs tested. The results of this study suggest that the MPs used in this study, derived from commonly applied agricultural plastics, do not pose an immediate hazard to Collembola.
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Soil springtails (Folsomia candida) were exposed to polyethylene microplastics at 0.1–1% concentrations for 28 days, showing avoidance behavior at 0.5% and above, and reproduction inhibited at 0.1% with a 70.2% reduction at the highest concentration, along with altered gut microbial communities. The study demonstrates significant sub-lethal effects of microplastics on a key soil invertebrate involved in decomposition processes.
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Scientists compared how conventional polyethylene and biodegradable PLA/PBAT microplastics affect earthworms and springtails in soil over 28 days. Neither plastic type significantly harmed reproduction, but subtle cellular stress responses were detected, and the effects were similar for both conventional and biodegradable plastics, suggesting that biodegradable alternatives may not be safer for soil organisms.
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