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Cross-Generational Exposure to Low-Density Polyethylene Microplastics Induced Hyperactive Responses in Eisenia fetida Offsprings
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Researchers exposed two generations of earthworms to polyethylene microplastics in soil and found that the offspring generation showed heightened stress responses even beyond what was seen in the parent generation. The parent worms experienced reduced reproduction and growth, while their offspring showed overactive antioxidant defenses and disrupted nervous system signaling. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils may have compounding effects across generations of soil organisms.
The extensive application of plastic products in daily human life has led to the accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soil. However, little is known about the cross-generational toxicity of MPs on terrestrial invertebrates. In this study, two-generational Eisenia fetida was exposed to low-density polyethylene (LDPE, 0-5%, w/w) for 98 days to reveal the cross-generational toxicity and the underlying mechanisms. Results showed that LDPE-MPs not only perpetrated deleterious effects on the development, hatchability, and fecundity of the F0 generation but also stimulated the antioxidant defense activity, inhibited lipid peroxidation, and disordered neurotransmission in F1 generation individuals. The susceptibility of the epidermal-intestinal barrier to LDPE-MPs was dose-dependent. According to the transcriptomic analysis, the cross-generational earthworms confirmed significant perturbances in the cell cycle, neural activity-related pathways, and amino acid metabolism pathways (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, the metabolomic profile of F1 generation individuals exhibited significant hyperactive responses in glutathione metabolism and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism (p < 0.05). This study provides a comprehensive knowledge of LDPE-MPs toxicity on cross-generational earthworms and highlights the hyperactive responses in the antioxidant defense performance of the offsprings. Our findings also underscore the necessity for long-term investigations in assessing the adverse impacts of emerging pollutants.
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Chronic and Transgenerational Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations in Earthworms (Eisenia fetida)
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Researchers studied the chronic and transgenerational effects of polystyrene microplastics on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) at environmentally relevant concentrations. While microplastics showed no acute toxicity in terms of mortality, they adversely affected reproduction in both parent and first-generation offspring, with over 50% reduction in juvenile production, suggesting that long-term microplastic exposure may impact soil organism populations across generations.
Multigenerational growth inhibition and oxidative stress of polystyrene micro(nano)plastics on earthworms (Eisenia fetida)
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Researchers exposed earthworms to polystyrene nano- and microplastics across two generations, finding both particle types reduced offspring numbers by 23–39%, disrupted reproductive tissue structure, and caused oxidative stress, with nanoplastics producing more severe multigenerational effects.
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.
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.
Chronic and transgenerational effects of polyethylene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations in earthworms
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Researchers evaluated the effects of polyethylene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations on earthworms across two generations. The study found that exposure at 0.5% concentration caused over 70% reduction in reproduction for both parent and offspring generations, significant DNA damage, and accumulation of phthalate additives released from the plastic particles.
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