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Synthetic Microfiber Material Influences Ingestion by Freshwater Worms
Summary
This study exposed freshwater worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) to three types of synthetic microfibers (nylon, polyester, and olefin) in sediment and found that polyester fibers were ingested at much higher rates — 10 to 12 fibers per individual — compared to nylon or olefin. The preferential ingestion of polyester is significant because it suggests that not all microfiber types pose equal ecological risk, and that polyester microfibers are more likely to be transferred up the food chain to animals that eat these worms.
Plastics enter the environment, amongst others, from synthetic textiles, which shed microplastic fibers (microfibers) during their production, use and disposal. We tested whether short- and long-term effects of microfibers on the aquatic worm, Lumbriculus variegatus, depend on the synthetic microfiber material. Microcosms containing L. variegatus were exposed to no microfibers (control) or one of three polymer treatments (nylon, polyester, or olefin) at 5 g of microfibers kg of sediment for 48 h or 28 days. Following exposure, L. variegatus were counted, weighed, and the number of microfibers ingested determined. Polyester microfibers occurred in higher quantities (10-12) than nylon and olefin (< one) per individual after 48 h and 28 days. Only the olefin per individual doubled after 28 days compared to 48 h. These findings indicate that polyester microfibers are more likely to affect L. variegatus and have greater potential to be ingested by higher trophic levels than other polymers.
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