The effects of polyethylene microplastics on the growth, reproduction, metabolic enzymes, and metabolomics of earthworms Eisenia fetida

Yang, Xiaoxia; Zhang, Xuemei; Shu, Xiao; Gong, Jiuping; Yang, Junying; Li, Biquan; Lin, Junjie; Chai, Yong; Liu, Jianfei

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115390

Cited by 14 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…The ecotoxicity of the copolyesters was assessed according to the Chinese national standard GB/T 21809-2008, “Acute toxicity test for earthworms”, equivalent to the OECD Guidelines for Chemical Testing No. 207 (1984) . An artificial soil with pH 6.0 (adjusted with calcium carbonate) was prepared by mixing about 10% peat moss ash, 20% kaolin clay, and 70% quartz sand.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…207 (1984). 43 An artificial soil with pH 6.0 (adjusted with calcium carbonate) was prepared by mixing about 10% peat moss ash, 20% kaolin clay, and 70% quartz sand. The copolyesters dissolved in chloroform were mixed with the dry soil, and the chloroform was allowed to evaporate completely to obtain a series of mixtures with different copolyester concentrations (0, 10, 100, 1000, 2500, or 5000 mg of copolyester/kg of artificial soil).…”

Section: Ecotoxicity Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Synthesis and Characterization of Aliphatic-Aromatic Copolyesters Based on Daidzein

Zhang,

Cheng,

Wandji Djouonkep

et al. 2024

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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A novel diol monomer, 7-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-3-(4-(2hydroxyethoxy)phenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (M), was synthesized by hydroxyethylation of daidzein, a lignin-derived compound that can be extracted from leguminous plants. A diester monomer, dimethyl 4,4′-((1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene))bis(oxy))bis(3-methoxybenzoate) (N), was obtained through a Williamson etherification reaction of methyl vanillate, potentially derived from plants such as Hovenia dulcis. The reaction of the two biobased monomers coupled with aliphatic diols (ethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, or 1,8octanediol) in a two-step melt polymerization process yielded a series of novel aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters. Structure−property relationships of these materials were established through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The weight-average molecular weight (M w ) of the samples ranged from 62,600 to 69,900 g/mol, and varying the carbon chain length in the aliphatic diol monomers not only induced changes in molecular weights but also synergistically tuned the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the copolymers. Thermal analysis yielded glass transition temperatures (T g ) of 115−141 °C, melting temperatures (T m ) of 271−308 °C, and 5% decomposition temperatures (T d,5% ) of 397−460 °C. The mechanical analysis exhibited high yield strength (50−115 MPa) and elongation at break (235−300%) values. After 32 weeks of degradation in soil, the copolyesters experienced mass losses of up to 4.1%. Ecotoxicity studies showed that the 14-day survival rate of earthworms exposed to the copolyesters was above 80%, suggesting a low toxicity in the environment. Overall, the excellent thermal and mechanical properties, as well as significant biodegradability, of these copolyesters make them suitable to replace petroleum-based commercial polyesters, thereby offering innovative solutions to the problem of environmental pollution.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ecotoxicity Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesis and Characterization of Aliphatic-Aromatic Copolyesters Based on Daidzein

Zhang,

Cheng,

Wandji Djouonkep

et al. 2024

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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Different mulch films, consistent results: soil fauna responses to microplastic

Weltmeyer,

Roß-Nickoll

2024

Environ Monit Assess

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Agricultural activities contribute to plastic pollution, with unintentional introduction and intentional use of plastic mulch films leading to the accumulation of microplastic particles in soils. The lack of removal techniques and scarce information on the effects on soil organisms, especially for biodegradable mulch films, necessitate an assessment of potential effects. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of mulch film microplastic on soil fauna by investigating reproduction output and subcellular responses before and after recovery from exposure. Two common soil organisms, Folsomia candida and Eisenia fetida, were exposed to petroleum-based polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable polylactic acid/polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PLA/PBAT) microplastic for 28 days, according to OECD guidelines 232 and 222, respectively. Juvenile numbers revealed no polymer- or concentration-dependent effects on E. fetida and F. candida reproduction after exposure to up to 5 and 10 g/kgdw soil, respectively. To provide a more sensitive and early indication of sublethal effects, subcellular responses in E. fetida were analyzed. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity increased with rising microplastic concentration; however, catalase (CAT), acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) did not differ from control levels. Further, the more environmentally relevant PE polymer was chosen for in-depth assessment of subcellular response after 28-day microplastic exposure and subsequent 28 days in uncontaminated soil with E. fetida. No significant differences in biomarker activity and stress levels were observed. We conclude that mulch film–derived microplastic did not adversely affect earthworm and collembolan species in this scenario, except for a slight induction in the detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase.

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Global research landscape of microplastics and their impact on earthworm: a bibliometric analysis

Moharana,

Patnaik,

Mishra

et al. 2024

Discov Environ

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Microplastics (MPs) are generated from diverse categories of plastic debris disposed in open. Its entry into the terrestrial ecosystem could not only impact soil physico-chemical attributes but also endanger the lives of biotas including the earthworms which play significant role in the decomposition of organics and sustaining the nutrient pool. There have been consistent efforts by various workers across the globe to study the impact of MPs on the terrestrial environment and exploring potential mitigation strategies to minimize contamination levels. This review presents a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on impact of MPs on the earthworms from 2017 to 2023. The primary objective is to discern trends among authors, institutions, and countries contributing to research on MPs, particularly concerning their interaction with earthworms. The analysis reveals a steady escalation in the number of publications up to 2022. The VOS viewer software was utilized for data visualization and cluster analysis, unveiling three clusters highlighting keyword groups associated with "microplastics", "soil", and "earthworms". Notably, "microplastics" and "earthworm" emerged as prominent research hotspots.

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The effects of polyethylene microplastics on the growth, reproduction, metabolic enzymes, and metabolomics of earthworms Eisenia fetida

Cited by 14 publications

References 73 publications

Synthesis and Characterization of Aliphatic-Aromatic Copolyesters Based on Daidzein

Synthesis and Characterization of Aliphatic-Aromatic Copolyesters Based on Daidzein

Different mulch films, consistent results: soil fauna responses to microplastic

Global research landscape of microplastics and their impact on earthworm: a bibliometric analysis

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