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Effect thresholds for the earthworm Eisenia fetida: Toxicity comparison between conventional and biodegradable microplastics
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Meta-analysis reveals contrasting effects of biodegradable and conventional microplastics on earthworm fitness, physiology, and gut microbiota
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A large analysis of over 100 studies found that both regular plastic pollution and "biodegradable" plastics harm earthworms, shrinking their survival, growth, and gut bacteria, while causing cell damage from oxidative stress. The key takeaway: switching to biodegradable plastics doesn't actually protect these important soil creatures, so it's not a guilt-free fix. Since earthworms keep soil healthy for growing our food, this matters for the whole food chain, including us, and it's a reminder that "biodegradable" labels don't always mean "harmless."
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.
Effects of Micro-Nanoplastics Exposure to Earthworms in the Soil System
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Researchers investigated how micro- and nanoplastic exposure affects earthworms in soil systems, examining toxicity mechanisms and interactions with co-occurring heavy metals and other contaminants. The findings indicate that MNP contamination can impair soil productivity and earthworm health, threatening the foundation of terrestrial food webs.
The Potential Concentration-Dependent Effects of Tire Microplastics on the Earthworm Eisenia fetida
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Researchers exposing earthworms (Eisenia fetida) to tire-derived microplastics at four concentrations found significant increases in antioxidant enzyme activity — including catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase — indicating oxidative stress and immune system activation at environmentally relevant exposure levels.
Low-density polyethylene microplastics partially alleviate the ecotoxicological effects induced by cadmium exposure on the earthworm Eisenia fetida
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A controlled soil experiment found that low-density polyethylene microplastics combined with cadmium did not worsen cadmium toxicity to earthworms and actually alleviated cadmium-induced DNA damage in coelomocytes, while LDPE alone had minimal effects on earthworm survival or reproduction. This counterintuitive finding suggests microplastic-metal interactions in soil are complex and not always additive, complicating risk assessments for contaminated agricultural soils.
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