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Sorption of Perfluorinated and Pharmaceutical Compounds in Plastics: A Molecular Simulation Study
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This study investigated the effects of polyethylene microplastic ingestion on the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris, finding reduced body weight, burrowing activity, and altered gut microbiome composition after 28-day exposures. The impacts were dose-dependent, with the highest dose causing 40% mortality.
The aim of the current study is to investigate the effect of temperature and degree of polymerisation on the thermodynamic interaction of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) into plastics. The occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern such as pharmaceutical drugs, PFCs, microplastics (MPs), etc., in sources of drinking water have posed significant health risks to aquatic life and humans in recent years. These organic pollutants can interact with MPs and pose much higher health risks; consequently, MPs become a transport vector and thus alter their migration as well as occurrence in the environment. The purpose of this paper is to examine the adsorption mechanism of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and sulfamethazine (SMT)—relative to water—on polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) using an extended Flory–Huggins approach. The results suggest that in an aqueous environment, both PFOA and PFOS may be taken up preferentially by PP and PE, although less strongly by PE. The degree of polymerisation of PE and PP did not significantly influence the observed behaviour. In terms of sorption affinity, the observed affinity was PFOA>PFOS>SMT which was consistence for both PE and PP.
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Researchers found that environmentally relevant concentrations of polyethylene microplastics added to plant litter on soil surfaces led to reduced growth and elevated mortality in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris, and that earthworms may themselves transport ingested microplastics deeper into soils.
Microplastics in the Terrestrial Ecosystem: Implications forLumbricus terrestris(Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae)
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This study is one of the first to investigate microplastic effects on a terrestrial organism, exposing earthworms to polyethylene particles mixed into leaf litter at various concentrations. Researchers found that while the earthworms survived all exposure levels, those exposed to the highest concentrations showed significant weight loss over the experimental period. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination of soils could affect the health and functioning of earthworms, which play a vital role in maintaining soil quality.
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Researchers studied how environmentally realistic concentrations of polypropylene and polyethylene microplastics affect earthworms at the molecular level. They found that both plastic types triggered oxidative stress, damaged digestive and immune systems, disrupted lipid metabolism, and altered the earthworms' ability to regulate water balance. The study suggests that even at concentrations commonly found in the environment, microplastic-contaminated soil poses measurable health risks to earthworms.
Effects of Polyethylene Microplastic Particle Size and Concentration on Earthworm Fitness and Gut Microbial Functional Potential
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Earthworms exposed to polyethylene microplastics in soil for 30 days lost more body weight than unexposed worms, especially at the smallest particle size and highest concentration. Mortality, cocoon production, and gut bacteria diversity did not show clear differences, and effects on gut bacteria types and their predicted functions were limited.
Effect of polyethylene microplastics on tebuconazole bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, and intestinal bacterial community in earthworms
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Researchers exposed earthworms to polyethylene microplastics of different sizes alongside a common fungicide and found that smaller microplastics caused the most severe oxidative stress and DNA damage. The microplastics also changed how much fungicide accumulated in the earthworms and disrupted their gut bacteria. This matters because earthworms are essential for soil health, and these effects could ripple through agricultural ecosystems that produce our food.
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