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Microplastic fibers influence Ag toxicity and bioaccumulation in Eisenia andrei but not in Enchytraeus crypticus
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This study found that polyester microfibers from laundry altered the toxicity of silver nanoparticles on earthworms, with fiber effects varying by species. Both microfibers and silver nanoparticles enter soil through sewage sludge, and their combined effects are more complex than either pollutant alone.
Abstract Microplastic fibers (MF) are released from synthetic textiles during washing and end up in the wastewater. Similarly, silver nanoparticles (AgNP), incorporated in textiles as antimicrobial agents, are released in washing machines, also reaching the wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, both MF and AgNP co-exist in the environment, and enter the soil compartment mainly via the application of biosolids. Yet, the combined effect of MF and AgNP has not been studied. Here, we assessed the effects of polyester MF (0.01% DW) on the toxicity of AgNP (32, 100, 320, 1000, 3200 mg Ag/kg) and AgNO3 (12.8, 32, 80, 200, 500 mg Ag/kg) to the earthworm Eisenia andrei and the enchytraeid Enchytraeus crypticus. The exposure to MF caused a decrease in the number of juveniles and changed the biochemical composition of earthworms. Moreover, the presence of MF increased the toxicity of AgNP to earthworm reproduction (EC50 = 165 mg Ag/kg) when compared to AgNP exposure alone (EC50 = 450 mg Ag/kg), but did not alter the toxicity of AgNO3 (EC50 = 40 mg Ag/kg). For enchytraeids, no significant difference in Ag toxicity could be detected when MF was added to the soil for both AgNP and AgNO3. Overall, Ag bioaccumulation was not affected by MF, with the exception of a decrease in earthworm body concentration at the highest Ag soil concentration (3200 mg Ag/kg). Our results suggest that the presence of MF in the soil compartment may be a cause of concern, and that the joint exposure to Ag may be deleterious depending on the Ag form, organism and endpoint. The present work provides the first evidence that a realistic MF concentration in soil lowers AgNP concentration necessary to provoke reproductive impairment in earthworms. The influence of MF on risk assessment of AgNP should be considered.
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Microplastic fibers influence Ag toxicity and bioaccumulation in Eisenia andrei but not in Enchytraeus crypticus
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed two soil invertebrates — Eisenia andrei earthworms and Enchytraeus crypticus enchytraeids — to silver nanoparticles combined with microplastic fibers, finding that fibers increased silver accumulation and toxicity in earthworms but not in enchytraeids, revealing species-specific interactions between these co-contaminants.
Microplastic Fibers Increase Sublethal Effects of AgNP and AgNO3 in Daphnia magna by Changing Cellular Energy Allocation
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PET microplastic fibers combined with silver nanoparticles or silver nitrate increased sublethal toxicity in Daphnia magna compared to each stressor alone, with combined exposure altering cellular energy allocation and suggesting synergistic effects.
Presence of microplastics enhanced the toxicity of silver nanoparticles on the collembolan Folsomia candida
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Researchers examined the combined effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics and silver nanoparticles on the soil organism Folsomia candida over 28 days. They found that co-exposure produced synergistic toxic effects, reducing reproduction by over 50% and increasing silver accumulation in the organisms by nearly 88% compared to silver nanoparticle exposure alone. The study suggests that the presence of microplastics in soil can amplify the toxicity of other contaminants by enhancing their bioaccumulation.
Polystyrene microplastics alter the accumulation and elimination dynamics of silver nanoparticles in Daphnia magna
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (microplastics) can change how silver nanoparticles, used in things like antibacterial coatings and water filters, build up in small aquatic organisms like water fleas. The plastics caused these creatures to absorb more silver from their water and hold onto it longer, meaning pollutants that seem harmless on their own might interact and become more concerning when combined in the environment. While this study was done in water fleas rather than humans, it's a reminder that plastic pollution could be affecting how other chemicals move through ecosystems, and potentially up the food chain.
Individual and combined effects of silver nanoparticles and polyvinyl chloride microplastics on the activity and abundance of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms from a wastewater treatment system
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Silver nanoparticles (used in some antibacterial products) can shut down helpful bacteria in wastewater treatment plants that normally break down ammonia into less harmful substances, and this damage gets worse at higher concentrations. Interestingly, microplastics alone didn't cause harm, but when microplastics had already settled in the water, they actually softened the silver nanoparticles' toxic effects, showing that pollutants can interact in unexpected ways. This matters because if wastewater treatment doesn't work properly, ammonia and other pollutants could end up back in our water supply.
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