We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effect of polyethylene microplastics on tebuconazole bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, and intestinal bacterial community in earthworms
Summary
Researchers exposed earthworms to polyethylene microplastics of different sizes alongside a common fungicide and found that smaller microplastics caused the most severe oxidative stress and DNA damage. The microplastics also changed how much fungicide accumulated in the earthworms and disrupted their gut bacteria. This matters because earthworms are essential for soil health, and these effects could ripple through agricultural ecosystems that produce our food.
Polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) are commonly found alongside fungicides in farmland soils. However, the toxic effects of varying PE-MP sizes and concentrations on soil fauna in fungicide-contaminated soils are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different PE-MP sizes (13, 48, and 150 µm) and concentrations (0.05 % and 0.25 %) on tebuconazole accumulation, oxidative stress, and gut bacteria in earthworms. The results indicated that earthworms exposed to MP13-H accumulated the highest tebuconazole on day 7, 19.77 % higher than tebuconazole alone, 7.27 % higher than MP48-H, and 10.30 % higher than MP150-H. MP13-H led to the most severe oxidative stress, significantly increasing the oxidative biomarkers catalase and peroxidase in earthworms. After 28 days, the expression of glutathione sulfotransferase genes was the lowest in the MP13-H group, while the antibacterial defense gene heat shock protein 70 and translationally controlled tumor protein were the highest, indicating severe DNA damage and increased toxicity to earthworms. Further, 150-µm PE-MPs caused the most severe damage to the intestinal epithelium. Moreover, PE-MPs induced an increase in the abundance of specific gut bacterial community associated with oxidative stress. The study suggested that PE-MPs changed the migration of fungicides to earthworms, induced oxidative stress, altered gene expression, and modified the gut microbiota, thereby increasing the risk to earthworms.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Combined effects of different-sized microplastics and fluindapyr on earthworm: Bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, histopathological responses and gut microbiota
This study exposed earthworms to microplastics of different sizes combined with a common fungicide and found that smaller microplastics caused more damage, including greater oxidative stress, tissue injury, and disruption to gut bacteria. The microplastics also increased the earthworms' absorption of the fungicide, amplifying its toxic effects. Since earthworms are essential for soil health and agriculture, this combined pollution could indirectly affect food production and the quality of crops grown in contaminated soil.
Effects of polyethylene microplastics stress on soil physicochemical properties mediated by earthworm Eisenia fetida
Researchers exposed earthworms to polyethylene microplastics of two sizes and found that smaller particles (13 micrometers) were more toxic than larger ones (130 micrometers), reducing survival and growth more severely. The microplastics caused oxidative stress in the worms and altered key soil properties including pH and organic carbon content. Since earthworms play a vital role in maintaining healthy soil for agriculture, this damage could affect soil quality and ultimately the food grown in microplastic-contaminated farmland.
Understanding the harmful effects of polyethylene microplastics on Eisenia fetida: A toxicological evaluation
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.
Transcriptomic and metabolic responses of earthworms to contaminated soil with polypropylene and polyethylene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations
Researchers studied how environmentally realistic concentrations of polypropylene and polyethylene microplastics affect earthworms at the molecular level. They found that both plastic types triggered oxidative stress, damaged digestive and immune systems, disrupted lipid metabolism, and altered the earthworms' ability to regulate water balance. The study suggests that even at concentrations commonly found in the environment, microplastic-contaminated soil poses measurable health risks to earthworms.
Ecotoxicological effects of different size ranges of industrial-grade polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics on earthworms Eisenia fetida
Researchers exposed earthworms to industrial-grade polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics of various sizes and found that the worms ingested all types of particles tested. The microplastics caused oxidative stress and DNA damage in the earthworms, with the severity depending on both the size and type of plastic. Gene analysis revealed that exposure disrupted pathways related to nervous system function, oxidative stress, and inflammation, indicating that microplastics pose ecological risks to important soil organisms.