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Ecotoxicological effects of microplastics and cadmium on the earthworm Eisenia foetida
Summary
Researchers studied the effects of microplastics alone and combined with the heavy metal cadmium on earthworms over 42 days. They found that both exposures reduced growth and increased mortality, with the combined treatment causing the most damage through increased oxidative stress. The study also revealed that microplastics can increase cadmium accumulation in earthworms by up to 161%, suggesting microplastics may worsen heavy metal contamination in soil ecosystems.
As microplastics (MPs) have become ubiquitous in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, there has been a growing concern about these new anthropogenic stressors. However, comparatively little is known about the negative effects of MPs, co-contamination of MPs and heavy metals on terrestrial organisms. The objective of this study was performed to understand the adverse effects of exposure to MPs and co-exposure to MPs and cadmium (Cd) on the earthworm Eisenia foetida (E. foetida). Results showed that exposure to MPs only or to a combination of MPs + Cd decreased growth rate and increased the mortality (>300 mg kg) after exposure for 42 d, with MPs + Cd (>3000 mg kg) posing higher negative influence on the growth of E. foetida. Exposure to MPs might induce oxidative damage in E. foetida, and the presence of Cd accelerates the adverse effects of MPs. Furthermore, the MPs particles can be retained within E. foetida, with values of 4.3-67.2 particles·g earthworm, and can increase the accumulation of Cd in earthworm from 9.7%-161.3%. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrate that combined exposure to MPs and Cd poses higher negative effects on E. foetida, and that MPs have the potential to increase the bioaccessibility of heavy metal ions in the soil environment.