We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Assessment of microplastics as a source and carriers of pesticides to earthworms (Eisenia fetida)
AI summary Read the abstract
This study assessed the potential of microplastics to act as sources and carriers of pesticides to earthworms in agricultural soils. The findings raise concerns about how soil-dwelling organisms may be exposed to pesticide contamination through microplastic ingestion, with implications for soil health and food chain contamination.
International audience
More Papers Like This
Can microplastics increase the uptake of agrochemicals by the soil biota and have bigger adverse effects?
AI summary Read the abstract
This study tested whether microplastics in soil can carry pesticides and harm earthworms. Earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were first exposed to soil containing different levels of the pesticide chlorpyrifos for 14 days, measuring enzyme activity and protein levels. A planned follow-up trial will add pesticide-contaminated microplastics to the soil to see if the pesticide causes further harm.
Low-density polyethylene microplastics as a source and carriers of agrochemicals to soil and earthworms
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated whether low-density polyethylene microplastics could act as carriers of agrochemicals in soil and found that the particles both released their own chemical additives and transported pesticides to earthworms. The study suggests microplastics in agricultural soils may serve as a previously underappreciated pathway for chemical exposure in soil organisms.
Microplastics and earthworms in soils: A case study on translocation, toxicity and fate
AI summary Read the abstract
This conference abstract presents research on how earthworms in agricultural soils interact with microplastics, examining whether worms translocate particles deeper into soil, experience toxic effects, and alter the fate of microplastic contamination. Earthworms are key soil engineers, and their exposure to microplastics could have cascading effects on soil health.
Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics in Agricultural Soil on Eisenia fetida (Annelida: Oligochaeta) Behavior, Biomass, and Mortality
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested how polyethylene microplastics in agricultural soil affected the behavior, body mass, and survival of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Researchers found that earthworms actively avoided soil contaminated with microplastics and experienced changes in biomass at higher concentrations. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in farmland could negatively affect soil-dwelling organisms that play a key role in maintaining soil health.
Effect of Microplastics on the Bioavailability of (Semi-)Metals in the Soil Earthworm Eisenia fetida
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics affect the uptake of cadmium and arsenic by earthworms in paddy soil. They found that microplastics altered the soil chemistry in ways that changed how much of these metals the earthworms absorbed, with effects varying by metal type and concentration. The study suggests that microplastics in contaminated agricultural soils can influence how toxic metals move through the food chain.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.