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Negative effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics and the plasticizer DnOP on earthworms: Co-exposure enhances oxidative stress and immune system damage in earthworms
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Researchers found that PVC microplastics and their chemical additive DnOP (a plasticizer) caused more damage to earthworms when combined than either pollutant alone. The co-exposure triggered oxidative stress, immune system damage, and reproductive harm at the molecular level. Since earthworms are essential for healthy soil and food production, this combined toxicity from common agricultural plastics could ultimately affect the safety of crops grown in contaminated soil.
Polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC-MPs) are the most used plastics in agriculture. Di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP), a commonly used plasticizer in PVC-MPs, may be released from plastic and coexist with PVC-MPs. The effects of DnOP alone and coexisting with PVC-MPs are not known. We evaluated the effects of DnOP or/and PVC-MPs on earthworms, and used integrated biomarker response (IBR) to assess the combined toxicity. Molecular docking and transcriptomics were employed for further interpretation of possible toxicity mechanisms. The results showed that exposure to DnOP or/and PVC-MPs caused oxidative damage and interfered with reproduction, adversely affecting the growth and reproduction of earthworms. IBR results showed that toxicity of DnOP+PVC-MPs exposure was greater than that of DnOP and PVC-MPs exposure alone. DnOP has the ability to directly bind to proteins that are associated with antioxidant enzymes and alter their structure. The transcriptomics results indicated that DnOP and PVC-MPs exposure alone mainly affected growth and development-related pathways, while co-exposure affected apoptosis and immune system-related pathways more. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive investigation of the combined toxicity of DnOP or/and PVC-MPs to earthworms from different perspectives, which gives scientifically sound evidence for the rational use of plasticizers DnOP and PVC-MPs.
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Combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and carbendazim on Eisenia fetida: A comprehensive ecotoxicological study
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Researchers studied the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and the pesticide carbendazim on earthworms and found that the two pollutants together caused worse damage than either alone. The combined exposure led to growth problems, oxidative stress, and organ damage even at lower concentrations. Since earthworms are essential for soil health and microplastics and pesticides commonly co-exist in farmland, these findings suggest that agricultural soil contamination could have cascading effects on the food system.
Combined toxicity of polyethylene microplastics and nickel oxide nanoparticle on earthworm (Eisenia andrei): oxidative stress responses, bioavailability and joint effect
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Researchers studied the combined toxicity of polyethylene microplastics and nickel oxide nanoparticles on earthworms over 28 days. They found that smaller microplastics caused greater oxidative stress, and the combination of both pollutants was more harmful than either one alone. The study suggests that the co-occurrence of microplastics and metal nanoparticles in soil can amplify negative effects on soil-dwelling organisms.
Effects of polyvinyl chloride and low-density polyethylene microplastics on oxidative stress and mitochondria function of earthworm (Eisenia fetida)
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Researchers exposed earthworms to PVC and polyethylene microplastics in soil and measured the effects on oxidative stress and mitochondrial function. Both plastic types caused significant cellular damage, with PVC proving more harmful by generating higher levels of reactive oxygen species and more severely disrupting the energy-producing mitochondria. The study provides evidence that microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils could harm the earthworms that play a critical role in maintaining soil health.
Multi-level biomarker responses in Eisenia fetida co-exposed to PE-MPs and DiBP: An ecological risk assessment based on physiological, biochemical, and molecular indicators
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Scientists found that when microplastics from farm plastic sheeting combine with a common plastic-softening chemical (DiBP) in soil, they cause worse damage to earthworms than either pollutant alone—harming their cells, DNA, and organs. This matters because these same plastics and chemicals are widespread in soil where our food grows, and earthworms are a key indicator of soil health, so damage to them could signal broader risks to the food chain and environment we depend on.
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.
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