We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Incorporation of microplastics from litter into burrows of Lumbricus terrestris
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated whether earthworms incorporate microplastics from surface litter into their burrows, finding that earthworm burrowing activity actively transports microplastics deeper into the soil profile.
Pollution caused by plastic debris is an urgent environmental problem. Here, we assessed the effects of microplastics in the soil surface litter on the formation and characterization of burrows built by the anecic earthworm Lumbricus terrestris in soil and quantified the amount of microplastics that was transported and deposited in L. terrestris burrows. Worms were exposed to soil surface litter treatments containing microplastics (Low Density Polyethylene) for 2 weeks at concentrations of 0%, 7%, 28%, 45% and 60%. The latter representing environmentally realistic concentrations found in hot spot soil locations. There were significantly more burrows found when soil was exposed to the surface treatment composed of 7% microplastics than in all other treatments. The highest amount of organic matter in the walls of the burrows was observed after using the treatments containing 28 and 45% microplastics. The highest microplastic bioturbation efficiency ratio (total microplastics (mg) in burrow walls/initial total surface litter microplastics (mg)) was found using the concentration of 7% microplastics, where L. terrestris introduced 73.5% of the surface microplastics into the burrow walls. The highest burrow wall microplastic content per unit weight of soil (11.8 ± 4.8 g kg-) was found using a concentration of 60% microplastics. L. terrestris was responsible for size-selective downward transport when exposed to concentrations of 7, 28 and 45% microplastics in the surface litter, as the fraction ≤50 μm microplastics in burrow walls increased by 65% compared to this fraction in the original surface litter plastic. We conclude that the high biogenic incorporation rate of the small-fraction microplastics from surface litter into burrow walls causes a risk of leaching through preferential flow into groundwater bodies. Furthermore, this leaching may have implications for the subsequent availability of microplastics to terrestrial organisms or for the transport of plastic-associated organic contaminants in soil.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic transport in soil by earthworms
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers demonstrated that earthworms can transport microplastic particles from the soil surface deeper into the ground, with smaller particles being moved to greater depths. Using the common earthworm Lumbricus terrestris in greenhouse experiments, they showed that worm activity significantly increased the presence of microplastics in lower soil layers. The findings suggest that earthworms play an important role in burying microplastics in soil, potentially affecting other soil organisms and groundwater.
Earthworms on a microplastics diet
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that environmentally relevant concentrations of polyethylene microplastics added to plant litter on soil surfaces led to reduced growth and elevated mortality in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris, and that earthworms may themselves transport ingested microplastics deeper into soils.
Leaching of microplastics by preferential flow in earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) burrows
AI summary Read the abstract
This study showed that earthworms can ingest microplastics from soil surfaces and transport them through their burrows into deeper soil layers via preferential flow pathways. The findings suggest earthworm activity contributes to the vertical movement of microplastics through soil profiles, with implications for groundwater contamination.
Earthworms transport microplastic fibres in soils
AI summary Read the abstract
Laboratory experiments showed that earthworms actively transport microplastic fibers deeper into soil profiles, suggesting that bioturbation by earthworms represents an important pathway for vertical redistribution of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils.
Nanoplastic Transport in Soil via Bioturbation by Lumbricus terrestris
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers demonstrated that earthworms can transport nanoplastics deep into soil through bioturbation, specifically by ingesting and excreting particles in their burrow walls. Using palladium-doped polystyrene nanoplastics, they tracked significant vertical transport over four weeks without detectable harm to the earthworms. The findings suggest that biological activity plays an important and previously underappreciated role in moving nanoplastics through soil profiles.
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.