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Effects of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on earthworm Eisenia andrei in two generations
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Researchers exposed earthworms (Eisenia andrei) to conventional polyethylene and biodegradable PBAT mulching film microplastics across two generations (7 months) and found that both types caused reproductive and growth effects, with impacts accumulating across generations under environmentally relevant concentrations.
Mulching films, used in agriculture, can act as a source of microplastics (MPs) and plastic additives in soils. Due to the persistence of conventional mulching films and the repeated use of biodegradable films, soil organisms are exposed to MPs generation after generation. To study the long-term effects of MPs on functionally important soil invertebrates, we exposed earthworm Eisenia andrei in two generations (7 months) to MPs made of conventional polyethylene (PE-MP) and biodegradable blend of starch and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT-BD-MP) mulching film materials at concentrations ranging from 0.005 % to 5 %. In the first generation, earthworms exposed to the PE-MP and PBAT-BD-MP at concentrations higher than 0.1 % grew faster compared to the control, but reproduction was not affected. In the second generation, PE-MP decreased reproduction at 5 % and growth in all concentrations, while PBAT-BD-MP increased reproduction and growth at 5 % concentration. The total energy reserves were not affected, but the activity of electron transport system (ETS) decreased at 0.5–5 % concentrations of PBAT-BD-MP in the second generation. The number of ingested MPs increased with increasing exposure concentration. In addition, the soil water holding capacity (WHC) increased and pH value decreased. Our results highlight the long-term ecological risks of microplastics in agricultural soils. • Little is known about the effects of biodegradable microplastics on soil biota. • Responses of E.Andrei to biodegradable and conventional MP exposure were studied. • Second generation earthworms were more sensitive to microplastic exposure. • Different microplastics had different effects on earthworms.
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Impacts of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on the earthworm Eisenia andrei
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Researchers compared the ecotoxicological effects of conventional low-density polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate microplastics (PBAT-BD-MPs) on earthworms (Eisenia andrei) across a range of concentrations in an eight-week reproduction test. Both polymer types were assessed for impacts on survival, reproduction, growth, and oxidative stress in soil organisms.
Impacts of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on the earthworm Eisenia andrei
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared the ecotoxicological effects of conventional low-density polyethylene microplastics and biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate microplastics on the earthworm Eisenia andrei using an eight-week reproduction test across seven concentration levels. Both polymer types affected earthworm survival, reproduction, and oxidative stress markers, raising questions about whether biodegradable alternatives pose similar soil ecosystem risks.
Reproduction, growth and oxidative stress in earthworm Eisenia andrei exposed to conventional and biodegradable mulching film microplastics
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Earthworms exposed to microplastics from both conventional polyethylene and biodegradable PBAT mulch films showed signs of oxidative stress, though reproduction was not significantly affected. The biodegradable microplastics actually stimulated growth at lower concentrations but caused stress at higher levels, similar to conventional plastics. Since earthworms are essential for soil health, these effects could have broader consequences for agricultural ecosystems where plastic mulch films are widely used.
Impact of Conventional vs. Biodegradable and Compostable Microplastics on Eisenia fetida S.: An Ecopathological Approach
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Researchers compared the effects of biodegradable and conventional polyethylene microplastics on soil-dwelling earthworms and found that both types caused increased mortality, decreased biomass, and tissue damage after 14 days of exposure. The study suggests that biodegradable microplastics are not necessarily safer than conventional ones, and that detailed tissue analysis can reveal harmful sublethal effects not captured by standard toxicity tests.
A comparison of the toxicity induced by the exposure to microplastics made of a conventional and a biodegradable polymer on the earthworm Eisenia fetida
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Researchers compared the toxicity of conventional versus biodegradable polymer microplastics on the earthworm Eisenia fetida, evaluating whether biodegradable alternatives present reduced ecotoxicological risk in soil environments where microplastic contamination is increasingly documented.
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