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Low-density polyethylene microplastics partially alleviate the ecotoxicological effects induced by cadmium exposure on the earthworm Eisenia fetida
Summary
A controlled soil experiment found that low-density polyethylene microplastics combined with cadmium did not worsen cadmium toxicity to earthworms and actually alleviated cadmium-induced DNA damage in coelomocytes, while LDPE alone had minimal effects on earthworm survival or reproduction. This counterintuitive finding suggests microplastic-metal interactions in soil are complex and not always additive, complicating risk assessments for contaminated agricultural soils.
Cadmium (Cd) can accumulate in the food chain, with serious impacts on human health and safety. Microplastics (MPs) such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) should be considered not only as a single pollutant but also as a carrier of other pollutants. In this study, we investigated the joint effects of 30% LDPE and 313 mg kg−1 Cd on mortality, growth, reproduction, microstructure, DNA damage, oxidative stress, and mRNA levels in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. We found that 313 mg kg−1 Cd inhibited growth and reproduction and damaged the microstructures of the skin and intestine. Meanwhile, LDPE had no effect on the mortality, growth, or cocoon production of earthworms. Moreover, it did not increase the mortality, growth, or inhibition of cocoon production caused by Cd and instead alleviated the DNA damage in coelomocytes caused by Cd treatment. Finally, it did not alter the accumulation of Cd in the worms. These indicators can be used for toxicity safety assessment and soil ecological risk assessment of LDPE and Cd cooccurrence in soil.