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Polylactic acid microplastics induce higher biotoxicity of decabromodiphenyl ethane on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) compared to polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics

The Science of The Total Environment 2022 56 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Mengru Fu, Yanna Han, Yanna Han, Yanna Han, Yanna Han, Yanna Han, Yanna Han, Mengru Fu, Wei Zhang, Mengru Fu, Yanna Han, Yanna Han, Mengru Fu, Yanna Han, Mengru Fu, Mengru Fu, Cheng Peng, Cheng Peng, Cheng Peng, Wei Zhang, Wei Zhang, Shanqi Zhou, Mengru Fu, Mengru Fu, Mengru Fu, Shanqi Zhou, Mengru Fu, Mengru Fu, Mengru Fu, Wei Zhang, Mengru Fu, Mengru Fu, Shanqi Zhou, Jinhong Wu, Wei Zhang, Shanqi Zhou, Shanqi Zhou, Fang Liu, Jinhong Wu, Shanqi Zhou, Shanqi Zhou, Cheng Peng, Shanqi Zhou, Shanqi Zhou, Shanqi Zhou, Zhihua Qiao, Cheng Peng, Cheng Peng, Zhihua Qiao, Jinhong Wu, Shanqi Zhou, Mengru Fu, Wei Zhang, Wei Zhang, Mengru Fu, Zhihua Qiao, Zhihua Qiao, Zhihua Qiao, Zhihua Qiao, Zhihua Qiao, Mengru Fu, Mengru Fu, Shanqi Zhou, Cheng Peng, Cheng Peng, Cheng Peng, Cheng Peng, Shanqi Zhou, Zhihua Qiao, Zhihua Qiao, Shanqi Zhou, Wei Zhang, Jie Yang Shanqi Zhou, Yanna Han, Shanqi Zhou, Cheng Peng, Cheng Peng, Yanna Han, Wei Zhang, Cheng Peng, Wei Zhang, Zhihua Qiao, Cheng Peng, Zhihua Qiao, Chunmei Ye, Wei Zhang, Fang Liu, Wei Zhang, Wei Zhang, Cheng Peng, Jie Yang Chunmei Ye, Chunmei Ye, Cheng Peng, Cheng Peng, Fang Liu, Jie Yang

Summary

Researchers compared the combined toxicity of the flame retardant DBDPE with three types of microplastics on earthworms and found that polylactic acid (a bio-based plastic) caused more severe damage than conventional polyethylene or polypropylene. The co-exposure led to neurotoxic effects, tissue damage, and significant transcriptomic changes in the earthworms. The findings challenge the assumption that biodegradable plastics are inherently safer than conventional plastics when interacting with environmental contaminants.

Polymers

PE PLA PP

Body Systems

Digestive Endocrine Immune Integumentary Musculoskeletal Nervous

Models

Invertebrate other

Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) and microplastics (MPs), such as fossil-based polymers polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and bio-based plastics polylactic acid (PLA) are abundant in e-waste dismantling areas. However, the information on the effects of DBDPE combined with MPs (DBDPE-MPs) on earthworms is still limited. In this study, we explored the impacts of DBDPE-MPs on neurotoxic biomarkers, tissue damage, and transcriptomics of Eisenia fetida by simulating different exposure patterns of 10 mg kg DBDPE and 10 mg kg DBDPE-MPs (PLA, PP, and PE). Results showed that the activities of acetylcholinesterase, Na/K-ATPase, Ca/Mg-ATPase, carboxylate enzyme, and the contents of calcium and glutamate were significantly stimulated. DBDPE-MP co-exposure caused more severe damage to the epidermis, muscles, and tissues. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of DBDPE-MPs were mainly related to inflammation, the immune system, digestive system, endocrine system, and metabolism. DBDPE and PP-MPs had similar influences on immunity and metabolism. However, DBDPE-PLA and DBDPE-PE further affected the endocrine system and signaling pathways. Specific DEGs showed that detoxification systems in the case of MPs were significantly upregulated. The study indicated that MPs exacerbated DBDPE toxicity in the nervous system, epidermis, and gene regulation of E. fetida, helping to assess the ecological risks of e-wastes and microplastics in soil.

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