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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Gut & Microbiome Human Health Effects Marine & Wildlife Policy & Risk Sign in to save

Cross-Generational Exposure to Low-Density Polyethylene Microplastics Induced Hyperactive Responses in <i>Eisenia fetida</i> Offsprings

Environmental Science & Technology 2024 6 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Yuanyuan Zhao, Yuanyuan Zhao, Huiting Jia, Hui Deng, Hui Deng, Chengjun Ge Hui Deng, Yuanyuan Zhao, Hui Deng, Huiting Jia, Huiting Jia, Huiting Jia, Huiting Jia, Huiting Jia, Huiting Jia, Yuanyuan Zhao, Huiting Jia, Huiting Jia, Hui Deng, Yuanyuan Zhao, Yuanyuan Zhao, Hui Deng, Huiting Jia, Chengjun Ge Hui Deng, Hui Deng, Yuanyuan Zhao, Chengjun Ge Chengjun Ge Chengjun Ge Ying Zhang, Hai‐Bin Luo, Yuanyuan Zhao, Hui Deng, Yuanyuan Zhao, Ying Zhang, Hui Deng, Yuanyuan Zhao, Chengjun Ge Chengjun Ge Ying Zhang, Ying Zhang, Chengjun Ge Yuanyuan Zhao, Chengjun Ge Yuanyuan Zhao, Yuanyuan Zhao, Chengjun Ge Chengjun Ge Hui Deng, Chengjun Ge Ying Zhang, Chengjun Ge Chengjun Ge Ying Zhang, Chengjun Ge Chengjun Ge Chengjun Ge Yuanyuan Zhao, Chengjun Ge Chengjun Ge

Summary

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.

Polymers
LDPE PE
Body Systems
Integumentary Nervous
Models
Invertebrate other

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 <i>Eisenia fetida</i> 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 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Nevertheless, the metabolomic profile of F1 generation individuals exhibited significant hyperactive responses in glutathione metabolism and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism (<i>p</i> < 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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