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The Possibility of Microplastic Removal by Earthworms and Comparing With Conventional Chemical Removal Methods (A Global and Deeply Systematic Review)
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Researchers reviewed chemical and biological strategies for microplastic removal, finding that certain earthworm species can absorb and decompose microplastic particles within weeks, offering a potentially low-cost biological alternative to conventional chemical removal methods.
Plastic is indispensable in today’s everyday life, but it is one of the biggest problems humanity is facing in the twenty-first century. Global plastic production reached 4.9 billion tons in 2015 and by 2025, 11 billion tons of plastics are expected to end up in the environment. Microplastic particles (MPs) were originally defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, originating from primary and secondary sources. Primary sources of MPs are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) particles in cosmetic and medical products. Secondary sources of MPs come from physical, chemical, and biological processes that lead to the fragmentation of plastic waste. More studies have focused on the effects and risks of MPs, and less attention has been paid to removal methods. Plastic takes 100 years to completely decompose. Scientific studies have shown that some types of worms can absorb and decompose MPs in just a few weeks. Researchers believe that this discovery can be an important tool in the human war against plastics; Substances whose presence in nature has serious risks for humans and compensatory damages Inevitability affects the environment. This review summarizes current chemical removal technologies of MPs.Then most of the current literature on the potential of earthworms to reduce MPs was collected. The advantages and disadvantages of various methods are summarized, and they are also compared, which can help more researchers choose the appropriate research method. The results of this research can open new doors to the global fight against plastic pollution.
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Researchers investigated how micro- and nanoplastic exposure affects earthworms in soil systems, examining toxicity mechanisms and interactions with co-occurring heavy metals and other contaminants. The findings indicate that MNP contamination can impair soil productivity and earthworm health, threatening the foundation of terrestrial food webs.
Microplastics in soil: a review on research status, sources, methods, and remediation strategies
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A comprehensive literature review found that soil microplastic research lags far behind aquatic studies despite annual MP discharge into farmland exceeding marine inputs, with synthetic textiles, tire wear, and urban dust as dominant sources entering soil via atmospheric deposition, sewage irrigation, and agricultural film use. The soil MP burden threatens food crop health, risks leaching into groundwater, and poses intergenerational health risks through nutrient disruption and potential plant-to-human transmission pathways.
A Mini Review on Biologically Innovative Solution for Biodegradation of Plastics/Microplastics by the Use of Superworms
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This review synthesizes evidence on superworm larvae (Zophobas atratus) as a biological tool for degrading plastics and microplastics, describing how gut microbes including Pseudomonas and Enterococcus depolymerize plastic into carbon dioxide and larval biomass. Superworm-based biodegradation offers a scalable pathway to reduce plastic pollution at its source, though research remains largely limited to polystyrene with little work on other common polymers like PET.
Microplastics, Their Toxic Effects on Living Organisms in Soil Biota and Their Fate: An Appraisal
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Microplastics exert toxic effects on soil biota including earthworms, nematodes, and microorganisms, disrupting nutrient cycling and undermining ecosystem services that agriculture depends on. Their persistence in soils and accumulation through food chains represent a growing threat to terrestrial biodiversity and food system safety.
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