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Combined toxicity of organophosphate flame retardants and polyethylene microplastics on Eisenia fetida: Biochemical and molecular insights
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Researchers exposed earthworms to polyethylene microplastics, chlorinated flame retardants, and their combinations to assess combined toxicity effects. They found that the most toxic flame retardant (TDCPP) had its effects reduced when combined with microplastics, likely because the plastics absorbed the chemical and lowered its bioavailability. In contrast, microplastics enhanced the toxicity of another flame retardant (TCPP), demonstrating that microplastics can act as both carriers and modulators of co-contaminant toxicity in soil ecosystems.
Microplastics and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), a subset of organophosphate esters (OPEs), are frequently co-detected in terrestrial ecosystems, raising concerns about their combined ecological risks. In this study, the epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida was exposed to polyethylene microplastics (PEs) (0.5 g kg), three chlorinated OPFRs (TCEP (tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate), TCPP (tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate), and TDCPP (tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate), each at 0.002 g kg), and their binary mixtures for 7 and 28 days. A suite of physiological, biochemical, and molecular biomarkers, including enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GST, AChE, ATPases), oxidative damage markers (MDA, 8-OHdG), and gene expressions (sod, hsp70, tctp), were evaluated to assess sublethal toxic responses. A time-dependent shift in the correlation between sod transcription and SOD enzyme activity was observed, indicating possible early-stage post-transcriptional regulation and later-stage transcriptional control. The results revealed compound-specific and time-dependent toxicities. TDCPP exhibited the highest individual toxicity, suppressing antioxidant enzymes and disrupting ion transport. Co-exposure with PEs attenuated TDCPP-induced effects, likely via reduced bioavailability. In contrast, PEs enhanced the toxicity of TCPP, especially in oxidative and genotoxic responses. TCEP induced moderate but delayed biochemical changes. This study underscores the dual role of PEs as both carriers and modulators of co-occurring pollutants, and highlights the need for mixture-based risk assessments in soil ecosystems.
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Researchers investigated the co-occurrence of polyethylene microplastics and the flame retardant TCEP in agricultural soils and their combined effects on earthworm health. The study found that co-exposure disrupted earthworm gut microbiota and metabolic homeostasis, suggesting that the interaction between microplastics and chemical additives in agricultural soil may pose greater ecological risks than either contaminant alone.
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Researchers studied the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and the pesticide carbendazim on earthworms and found that the two pollutants together caused worse damage than either alone. The combined exposure led to growth problems, oxidative stress, and organ damage even at lower concentrations. Since earthworms are essential for soil health and microplastics and pesticides commonly co-exist in farmland, these findings suggest that agricultural soil contamination could have cascading effects on the food system.
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Researchers assessed the combined effects of polypropylene microplastics and a heavy metal mixture (copper, chromium, and zinc) on the earthworm Eisenia foetida and on soil organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling. The study found that co-contamination exacerbated adverse effects on earthworm survival and soil nutrient dynamics compared to single-pollutant exposures, highlighting synergistic risks of combined microplastic and metal pollution in terrestrial ecosystems.
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