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Differential Impacts of Conventional and Biodegradable Microplastics on Cadmium Transfer in a Soil-Earthworm-Lettuce System

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2025 1 citation ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 53 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Changchao Li, Changchao Li, Fengyu Huang, Changchao Li, Changchao Li, Fengyu Huang, Fengyu Huang, Fengyu Huang, Fengyu Huang, Fengyu Huang, Fengyu Huang, Fengyu Huang, Tao Li, Li Chen, Li Chen, Nan Chang, Changchao Li, Tao Li, Changchao Li, Tianyi Qiu, Changchao Li, Jason C. White Changchao Li, Nan Chang, Nan Chang, Nan Chang, Haoran He, Qingliang Cui, Nan Chang, Nan Chang, Nan Chang, Tao Li, Nan Chang, Tianyi Qiu, Changchao Li, Tianyi Qiu, Li Chen, Tianyi Qiu, Jason C. White Fengyu Huang, Haijian Bing, Fengyu Huang, Tao Li, Tianyi Qiu, Changchao Li, Linchuan Fang, Changchao Li, Jason C. White Jason C. White Jason C. White Jason C. White Jason C. White Tao Li, Tao Li, Qingliang Cui, Qingliang Cui, Qingliang Cui, Fengyu Huang, Jason C. White Jason C. White Jason C. White Linchuan Fang, Jason C. White Fengyu Huang, Tianyi Qiu, Tianyi Qiu, Tianyi Qiu, Jason C. White Jason C. White Jason C. White Jason C. White Qingliang Cui, Changchao Li, Linchuan Fang, Qingliang Cui, Changchao Li, Jason C. White Jason C. White Linchuan Fang, Fengyu Huang, Jason C. White Fengyu Huang, Jason C. White Linchuan Fang, Linchuan Fang, Changchao Li, Li Chen, Jason C. White Jason C. White Tianyi Qiu, Changchao Li, Haoran He, Haoran He, Changchao Li, Fengyu Huang, Nan Chang, Tianyi Qiu, Changchao Li, Linchuan Fang, Fengyu Huang, Linchuan Fang, Changchao Li, Changchao Li, Linchuan Fang, Linchuan Fang, Haijian Bing, Jason C. White Jason C. White Jason C. White Jason C. White Jason C. White Jason C. White Linchuan Fang, Changchao Li, Jason C. White Linchuan Fang, Linchuan Fang, Changchao Li, Linchuan Fang, Jason C. White Linchuan Fang, Jason C. White Jason C. White Linchuan Fang, Linchuan Fang, Linchuan Fang, Linchuan Fang, Linchuan Fang, Jason C. White Jason C. White

Summary

Researchers compared how conventional and biodegradable microplastics affect cadmium transfer through a soil-earthworm-lettuce system. They found that high doses of conventional microplastics increased cadmium concentrations in lettuce shoots by 54 percent and in earthworms by 80 percent, while biodegradable microplastics actually decreased shoot cadmium by 30 percent. The study suggests that different types of microplastics have opposing effects on heavy metal contamination in the food chain.

Microplastics (MPs) and cadmium (Cd) are widespread agricultural contaminants, yet the interactions of MPs with Cd in agroecosystems are unknown. Here, we conducted a microcosm experiment to investigate the impacts of different MP types, including conventional (CMPs) and biodegradable MPs (BMPs), on the transfer of Cd in a soil-earthworm-lettuce system. The high dose (2%) of CMPs significantly increased the Cd concentration in plant shoots and earthworms by 54.1% and 79.9%, respectively. However, high-dose BMP exposure decreased the shoot Cd concentration by 30.3%. This could be explained by significant changes in soil properties, available Cd, and microbial communities after CMP and BMP exposure. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the CMP was significantly more enriched than the BMP group in metabolic pathways related to organic acid biosynthesis, which may increase soil Cd availability. Our study provides important insights for understanding the potential risk of Cd contamination of the food chain under MP exposure.

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