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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Accumulation of Spherical Microplastics in Earthworms Tissues-Mapping Using Raman Microscopy
ClearAn Evaluation of the Quantitative Concentration of Microplastic in Dendrobaena veneta and Lumbricus terrestris Tissues from Laboratory and Environmental Cultures
Researchers exposed two earthworm species (Dendrobaena veneta and Lumbricus terrestris) to mixed microplastics at different concentrations in laboratory and environmental cultures and measured MP accumulation in tissues using FTIR and fluorescence. Both species accumulated MPs in tissues with significant polymer content confirmed, and digestive enzyme activity caused observable structural changes to the plastic particles.
Earthworms on a microplastics diet
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.
Earthworms ingest microplastic fibres and nanoplastics with effects on egestion rate and long-term retention
Researchers used specially labeled microplastic fibers and nanoplastics to track their uptake and retention in earthworms. They found that earthworms ingested both types of particles, but nanoplastics were retained in body tissues for much longer than fibers, which were mostly excreted within days. The study reveals that soil organisms can accumulate very small plastic particles over time, with potential implications for soil food webs.
Incorporation of microplastics from litter into burrows of Lumbricus terrestris
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.
Identification and visualisation of microplastics by Raman mapping
Researchers demonstrated that Raman mapping can identify and visualize microplastics within soil and sand samples with minimal sample preparation. The technique successfully detected various polymer types against complex natural backgrounds without requiring dyes or destructive processing. The study presents Raman mapping as a practical, non-destructive analytical tool for studying microplastic distribution in environmental matrices like soil.
Microplastic-Earthworm Interactions: A Critical Review
This critical review examines how microplastics from diverse plastic waste categories accumulate in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and interact with earthworms, a key soil organism. The authors synthesize evidence on the deleterious effects of increasing microplastic concentrations on soil properties, microbiota, and earthworm physiology.
Localisation and identification of polystyrene particles in tissue sections using Raman spectroscopic imaging
Researchers developed a Raman spectroscopic imaging method to localize and identify polystyrene microplastic particles directly within tissue sections, enabling in-situ detection without fluorescent labeling and making environmental sample analysis feasible.
Microplastic transport in soil by earthworms
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 Exposed to Polyethylene and Biodegradable Microplastics in Soil: Microplastic Characterization and Microbial Community Analysis
Researchers exposed earthworms to biodegradable and conventional polyethylene microplastics in natural soil and found that worms ingested both types. The biodegradable plastic showed signs of partial breakdown in the earthworm gut, while conventional polyethylene remained unchanged. Although microplastics did not significantly alter the soil or gut microbiome in this study, the results confirm that earthworms transport microplastics through soil ecosystems.
Raman microspectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for the analysis of polyethylene microplastics in human soft tissues
Researchers developed a combined technique using Raman microspectroscopy and laser-based analysis to detect polyethylene microplastics in human soft tissue samples. The method can identify both the plastic polymer and any associated inorganic elements in tissue. This kind of detection tool is important for understanding whether microplastics accumulate in specific human organs and what health effects they might have.
Comparison of Raman and fluorescence microscopy for identification of small (< 2 μm) microplastics in soil
Researchers compared Raman and fluorescence microscopy for detecting very small microplastics (1-2 micrometers) in different soil types. The study found that while Raman microscopy could identify polystyrene in simpler matrices like quartz sand, it failed in clay-rich soils and soils containing organic matter, whereas fluorescence microscopy consistently detected microplastics across all soil types and concentrations tested.
Responses of earthworms exposed to low-density polyethylene microplastic fragments
Researchers exposed earthworms to low-density polyethylene microplastic fragments at various concentrations and studied the effects on their survival, growth, and reproduction. The microplastics affected earthworm behavior and caused measurable changes depending on concentration and exposure time. Since earthworms are critical for soil health and nutrient cycling, their sensitivity to microplastics raises concerns about how plastic pollution may degrade agricultural soils.
Detecting and monitoring the leaching of small (¡ 2 µm) microplastics in soils by fluorescence microscopy
Researchers developed a fluorescence microscopy method to detect and monitor the leaching of small microplastics (under 2 µm) in soils, comparing it against µ-Raman spectroscopy across matrices of varying complexity and demonstrating its applicability for tracking the smallest microplastic fraction in soil systems.
Quantitative evaluation of microplastics in colonies of Phragmatopoma caudata Krøyer in Mörch, 1863 (Polychaeta-Sabellariidae): Analysis in sandcastles and tissues and identification via Raman spectroscopy
Researchers found microplastics embedded in the sand tubes and body tissues of Phragmatopoma caudata, a tube-building marine worm that constructs its home from sand grains. This study shows that filter-feeding and sediment-associated organisms incorporate microplastics into their structures, spreading plastic contamination through marine ecosystems.
Data for: The deep-burrowing earthworm Lumbricus terrestris ingests and transports microplastic fibres of a wide length range in soils
Researchers tracked redistribution of metal-doped microplastic fibers in 30 cm soil columns over four weeks and analyzed earthworm casts to show that Lumbricus terrestris ingests and vertically transports MP fibers across a wide length range, with redistribution detectable within two weeks of introduction.
Data for: The deep-burrowing earthworm Lumbricus terrestris ingests and transports microplastic fibres of a wide length range in soils
Researchers tracked redistribution of metal-doped microplastic fibers in 30 cm soil columns over four weeks and analyzed earthworm casts to show that Lumbricus terrestris ingests and vertically transports MP fibers across a wide length range, with redistribution detectable within two weeks of introduction.
Dark-field hyperspectral microscopy for label-free microplastics and nanoplastics detection and identification in vivo: A Caenorhabditis elegans study
Researchers demonstrated that dark-field hyperspectral microscopy can visualize and chemically identify nano- and microplastics (down to 100 nm) in live C. elegans nematodes without labeling, differentiating multiple polymer types simultaneously within intestinal tissue.
Label-free detection of polystyrene nanoparticles in Daphnia magna using Raman confocal mapping
Researchers demonstrated that Raman confocal mapping can detect polystyrene nanoparticles inside Daphnia magna without labels or dyes, revealing particle accumulation in the gut and providing a non-invasive method for studying nanoplastic uptake in organisms.
Microplastics in the Terrestrial Ecosystem: Implications forLumbricus terrestris(Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae)
This study is one of the first to investigate microplastic effects on a terrestrial organism, exposing earthworms to polyethylene particles mixed into leaf litter at various concentrations. Researchers found that while the earthworms survived all exposure levels, those exposed to the highest concentrations showed significant weight loss over the experimental period. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination of soils could affect the health and functioning of earthworms, which play a vital role in maintaining soil quality.
Microplastic identification using Raman microsocpy
Researchers developed and implemented a Raman spectroscopy system for rapid detection and identification of microplastic particles on substrates. The system enables efficient chemical characterization of microplastics found across diverse environmental matrices including ocean, lakes, soil, beach sediment, and human blood.
Nanoplastic\nTransport in Soil via Bioturbation by Lumbricus terrestris
Researchers found that the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris actively transports nanoplastics (50-500 nm) downward through soil layers via bioturbation, with transport rates comparable to microplastics despite the smaller particle size.
Microplastics and earthworms in soils: A case study on translocation, toxicity and fate
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.
Nanoplastic Transport in Soil via Bioturbation by Lumbricus terrestris
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.
Exploring Microplastics’ Presence in Free-Living Marine Nematodes from Natural Ecosystems Using µ-Raman Spectroscopy
Researchers attempted to detect microplastics inside free-living marine nematodes — tiny worms that live in seafloor sediments and are often used as pollution bioindicators — using high-resolution Raman spectroscopy. While technically feasible, the study found that contamination from airborne microplastics and plastic lab equipment was a major obstacle to getting reliable results in these very small organisms. The findings underscore the need for stricter contamination controls in microplastic research involving organisms that can ingest particles smaller than 5 micrometers.