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The soil nematode exposome: Unraveling the impacts of particulate plastics from agroecosystems to one health
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Researchers propose using soil nematodes — tiny worms that are sensitive indicators of soil health — as biological sentinels for microplastic pollution, arguing that their conserved molecular pathways and ecological roles make them ideal for an integrated risk framework that connects plastic contamination in soil to broader human health outcomes.
The escalating accumulation of particulate plastics in terrestrial ecosystems demands innovative, biologically informed approaches to evaluate their ecological and human health impacts. Soil nematodes are gaining recognition as sensitive and ecologically relevant bioindicators for assessing the effects of plastic pollution in soils. Their widespread distribution, trophic adaptability, and close association with soil particles make them ideal sentinels for detecting subtle yet significant biological responses to micro- and nanoplastics. Plastic contamination can disrupt soil structure, microbiome composition, and nutrient cycling, which in turn affects nematode abundance, diversity, and community dynamics. Recent advancements in soil nematode-based bioassays, bolstered by molecular and omics technologies, offer novel insights into the nematode exposome, capturing direct particle interactions, microbial shifts, and trophic transfer processes. We propose a tiered assessment framework that leverages conserved molecular pathways in nematodes to predict both environmental and human health outcomes associated with plastic exposure. By integrating nematode ecological indices with mechanistic biomarkers, this framework transforms risk assessment into a more holistic, efficient, and cost-effective model. Incorporating nematodes into plastic pollution studies not only enhances our capacity to monitor soil ecosystem health but also plays a crucial role in safeguarding agricultural sustainability and public health in an increasingly plastic-laden food chain.
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Nanoplastics induce molecular toxicity in earthworm: Integrated multi-omics, morphological, and intestinal microorganism analyses
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Researchers used multi-omics analysis to study how even low concentrations of nanoplastics affect earthworms, important indicators of soil health. They found that nanoplastics accumulated in the earthworms' intestines, damaging their digestive and immune systems and disrupting gut microorganism communities. The study demonstrates that nanoplastics can cause molecular-level harm to soil organisms at concentrations that might be considered environmentally realistic.
Earthworm-microbiome interactions: Unlocking next-generation bioindicators and bioengineered solutions for soil and environmental health
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This review explores how earthworms and their associated microbiomes can serve as bioindicators of soil contamination from pollutants including microplastics. Changes in earthworm gut microbial communities can act as early warning signals of soil pollution, and engineered earthworm-microbiome systems show potential for environmental remediation. The study suggests that understanding these biological interactions could lead to new biomonitoring tools for assessing microplastic contamination in terrestrial ecosystems.
Ecotype-Specific Drilosphere Microbiome Reprogramming Influencing Microplastic Impacts on Soil Carbon–Nitrogen Characteristics and Earthworm Health
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Tiny plastic particles from pollution build up in the soil around earthworm burrows and guts, disrupting the good bacteria that keep soil healthy and making it harder for soil to hold onto nitrogen — a key nutrient for growing food. This matters because earthworms are essential for healthy soil that our crops depend on, and this research shows microplastics can quietly damage that system by harming earthworms' immune systems and digestion in ways that ripple through the food chain.
Microplastics in agricultural soils: Impacts on soil microbial communities, nutrient cycling, earthworm health, and soil ecosystem functions
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This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic bits building up in farm soil, from sources like plastic mulch and sewage sludge, are harming the soil itself, disrupting the microbes and earthworms that keep it healthy and fertile. This matters because damaged soil means reduced crop growth and food security over time, and these same microplastics can carry harmful chemicals and heavy metals that may end up in our food, water, and air. The researchers stress that without action to reduce plastic pollution now, the damage to farmland could become permanent.
Micro- and Nanoplastic Effects on Nematodes: A Systematic Review of Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Characteristics, and Soil Ecological Implications
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This review pulls together 166 studies on how tiny plastic particles (micro- and nanoplastics) affect soil-dwelling worms called nematodes, finding that plastic exposure can cause oxidative stress, gut damage, nerve problems, and reproductive issues—effects that can even pass to future generations. While most research has focused on lab-friendly conditions rather than real-world soil, the findings matter because these worms are a key part of soil health, and plastic pollution's ripple effects through soil ecosystems could eventually impact the food we grow and eat.
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