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Effects of Different Microplastics on Nematodes in the Soil Environment: Tracking the Extractable Additives using an Ecotoxicological Approach
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This study tested how three different microplastic types with varying sizes, shapes, and polymer compositions affected soil nematodes, finding that the type of microplastic and its extractable chemical additives influenced toxicity outcomes. The findings show that microplastic effects on soil organisms depend on the specific characteristics of the plastic, meaning blanket toxicity assessments using a single plastic type can be misleading.
ABSTRACT With an increasing interest in the effects of microplastic in the soil environment, there is a need to thoroughly evaluate potential adverse effects of these particles as a function of their characteristics (size, shape, and composition). In addition, extractable chemical additives from microplastic have been identified as an important toxicity pathway in the aquatic environment. However, we currently know little about effects of such additives in the soil environment. In this study on nematodes ( Caenorhabditis elegans ), we adopted an ecotoxicological approach to assess the potential effects of thirteen different microplastics with different characteristics and extractable additives. We found that toxic effects appear to increase in the order of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film < polypropylene (PP) fragments < high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fragments ≈ polystyrene (PS) fragments < polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fragments ≈ polyacrylicnitrile (PAN) fibers. Acute toxicity was mainly attributed to the extractable additives: when the additives were extracted, the toxic effects of each microplastic disappeared in the acute soil toxicity test. The harmful effects of LDPE film and PAN fibers increased when the microplastics were maintained in soil for a long-term period with frequent wet-dry cycles. We here provide clear evidence that microplastic toxicity in the soil is highly related to particle characteristics and extractable additives. Our results suggest that future experiments consider extractable additives as a key explanatory variable. Abstract art/Table of contents
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Effects of Different Microplastics on Nematodes in the Soil Environment: Tracking the Extractable Additives Using an Ecotoxicological Approach
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Researchers examined how different types of microplastics affect soil nematode populations by tracking extractable chemical additives released from the plastic particles. They found that microplastic composition, size, and shape influenced the types and amounts of chemicals leached into the soil, which in turn affected nematode survival and behavior. The study highlights that the indirect chemical effects of microplastics may be just as important as their physical presence in determining soil ecosystem impacts.
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