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Direct and indirect effects of microplastics from agricultural mulch films on terrestrial isopods Porcellionides pruinosus (Crustacea, Isopoda): A comparative exposure study

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Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Špela Železnikar, Špela Železnikar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Špela Železnikar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Špela Železnikar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Špela Železnikar, Špela Železnikar, Damjana Drobne Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Damjana Drobne Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Damjana Drobne Andraž Dolar, Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Damjana Drobne Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Marina Pintar, Marina Pintar, Luka Ausec, Luka Ausec, Damjana Drobne Tjaša Danevčič, Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Marina Pintar, Marina Pintar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Marina Pintar, Marina Pintar, Damjana Drobne Andraž Dolar, Damjana Drobne Špela Železnikar, Andraž Dolar, Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Andraž Dolar, Andraž Dolar, Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne Damjana Drobne

Summary

Researchers compared the direct and indirect effects of microplastics from three types of agricultural mulch films, including conventional polyethylene and two bioplastic alternatives, on the soil isopod Porcellionides pruinosus. Through feeding experiments and mesocosm studies, they measured survival, weight changes, and stress-related biomarkers including immune cell counts and enzyme activity. The study found that indirect effects of mulch film microplastics on soil organisms may be more significant than direct ingestion toxicity.

Polymers

LDPE PE

Body Systems

Nervous

Microplastic (MPs) contamination in terrestrial ecosystems is an emerging concern, with indirect impacts on soil biota often exceeding direct toxicity. This study examined direct and indirect effects of MPs from agricultural mulch films-low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and starch bioplastics (starch-based)-on the soil isopod Porcellionides pruinosus. We conducted comparative feeding and mesocosm experiments under environmentally realistic conditions. We analysed toxicological endpoints like survival and weight change, and stress-related markers like total haemocyte count, differential haemocyte count, phenoloxidase PO-like activity, enzymatic assays of acetylcholinesterase, glutathione S-transferase, and electron transport system activity. No acute toxicity was observed; however, soil exposure had a more pronounced effect on P. pruinosus, confirming that indirect impacts via altered soil conditions are stronger than direct dietary exposure. Notably, only bio-based MPs triggered changes in cellular and biochemical stress parameters, while fossil-based MPs had no observable effect. The stress response of P. pruinosus in mesocosm experiments aligned with shifts in microbial respiration, suggesting that soil-mediated effects play a dominant role in organismal stress. These findings underscore the importance of considering indirect pathways in MP toxicity assessments and highlight the suitability of terrestrial isopods for integrating diverse toxicological endpoints and stress markers in both laboratory and mesocosm settings.

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