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Metabolomics insights into the combined effects of boscalid and polystyrene microplastics on earthworms (Eisenia fetida): The critical role of pesticide dose and microplastics size
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Researchers studied the combined effects of the pesticide boscalid and polystyrene microplastics on earthworms, finding that the interaction between the two contaminants significantly altered earthworm metabolic profiles. The severity of effects depended on both the pesticide dose and the size of the microplastic particles. The study highlights that microplastics in agricultural soils may interact with pesticides to create synergistic toxic effects on soil organisms.
The extensive use of pesticides and agricultural plastic films has created emerging environmental challenges, with accumulating evidence showing their co-occurrence in soils. This coexistence raises serious concerns about their combined ecological impacts, particularly their potential synergistic effects that remain poorly understood and require urgent investigation. In this study, we evaluated the ecological toxicity effects of boscalid (BOS, 1.0 and 5.0 mg/kg) and polystyrene microplastics (PE MPs, 15 and 150 μm) combined exposure on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) from changes in oxidative defense system, intestinal structural function, and metabolic phenotypes. Our findings demonstrated that co-exposure to BOS and PE MPs significantly inhibited earthworm growth and induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, the combined treatment disrupted intestinal barrier integrity. Metabolomics analysis revealed substantial perturbations in earthworm metabolic profiles, suggesting systemic physiological dysregulation. Notably, the toxicological interactions between BOS and PE MPs were dose- and size-dependent, with higher pesticide concentrations and greater MPs exacerbating adverse effects. Collectively, this study highlights that agricultural plastic residues could synergistically enhance the toxicity of co-occurring pesticides, underscoring the need for greater environmental and regulatory scrutiny of such combined pollutants.
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Metabolomics and microbiomics revealed the combined effects of different-sized polystyrene microplastics and imidacloprid on earthworm intestinal health and function
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This study examined how different-sized polystyrene microplastics combined with a common pesticide affected earthworm gut health. The combination disrupted gut bacteria, altered metabolism, and hindered nutrient absorption more severely than either pollutant alone. Since earthworms are critical for soil health in farmland, this damage could indirectly affect crop quality and human food safety.
Ecotoxicological risk of co-exposure to fosthiazate and microplastics on earthworms (Eisenia fetida): Integrating biochemical and transcriptomic analyses
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Researchers investigated the combined toxic effects of the insecticide fosthiazate and microplastics on earthworms using both biochemical and genetic analyses. They found that co-exposure increased oxidative stress, DNA damage, and disrupted metabolic pathways more severely than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that microplastics may amplify pesticide toxicity in soil organisms, raising concerns about their combined impact on soil ecosystem health.
Combined ecotoxicological effects of different-sized polyethylene microplastics and imidacloprid on the earthworms (Eisenia fetida)
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Researchers exposed earthworms to different sizes of polyethylene microplastics combined with the pesticide imidacloprid and found that particle size significantly influenced the combined toxic effects. Smaller microplastics tended to increase pesticide toxicity more than larger ones, affecting earthworm survival, growth, and antioxidant responses. The findings highlight how microplastic size matters when assessing the joint environmental risks of plastic pollution and agricultural chemicals in soil.
Combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and carbendazim on Eisenia fetida: A comprehensive ecotoxicological study
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Researchers studied the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and the pesticide carbendazim on earthworms and found that the two pollutants together caused worse damage than either alone. The combined exposure led to growth problems, oxidative stress, and organ damage even at lower concentrations. Since earthworms are essential for soil health and microplastics and pesticides commonly co-exist in farmland, these findings suggest that agricultural soil contamination could have cascading effects on the food system.
Accumulation of microplastics and Tcep pollutants in agricultural soil: Exploring the links between metabolites and gut microbiota in earthworm homeostasis
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Researchers investigated the co-occurrence of polyethylene microplastics and the flame retardant TCEP in agricultural soils and their combined effects on earthworm health. The study found that co-exposure disrupted earthworm gut microbiota and metabolic homeostasis, suggesting that the interaction between microplastics and chemical additives in agricultural soil may pose greater ecological risks than either contaminant alone.
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