Low-density polyethylene microplastics as a source and carriers of agrochemicals to soil and earthworms
Andrés Rodríguez-Seijo
A E , Bruna Santos A , Eduardo Ferreira da Silva B , Anabela Cachada A C D and Ruth Pereira A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A GreenUPorto and Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto 4169-007, Portugal.
B Department of Geosciences, Geobiotec Research Centre, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal.
C Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Matosinhos 4450-208, Portugal.
D Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal.
E Corresponding author. Email: andresrodriguezseijo@hotmail.com
Environmental Chemistry 16(1) 8-17 https://doi.org/10.1071/EN18162
Submitted: 31 July 2018 Accepted: 9 October 2018 Published: 30 October 2018
Environmental context. Microplastics, long recognised as contaminants in aquatic ecosystems, are increasingly of environmental concern for terrestrial ecosystems. This study focuses on the potential of microplastics to act as carriers of agrochemicals and the subsequent effects on soil biota. The results indicate the need for further studies into how soil properties influence both the degradation of microplastics and their role as pollutant carriers.
Abstract. Microplastics (MPs) are of environmental concern to marine ecosystems owing to the evidence of their presence in and adverse effects on organisms, but studies to address this problem on soils and its biota are scarce. Several questions can arise related to this major environmental problem and its impact on terrestrial ecosystems, mainly, whether MPs can transport contaminants (e.g. pesticides) to the soil matrix and if they can be a carrier of pesticides to soil biota. To contribute to the understanding of these issues, earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were exposed for 14 days to soil containing two different sized MPs (5 mm and 0.25 µm–1 mm) that were either previously sprayed or not with chlorpyrifos (CPF). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured to track the exposure of the earthworms to MPs, both non-sprayed and sprayed with CPF. The behaviour of the earthworms in the test containers and the movement of MPs in the soil were assessed. The concentration of CPF in soil at the end of the experiment differed between the treatments with MPs of different sizes (17.9 ng g−1 and 2442 ng g−1 for large and small MPs, respectively). Despite the ability of the MPs to release CPF to the soil, the earthworms avoided the contaminated MPs at the highest contaminant level. At a lower concentration of CPF (large MPs), the earthworms avoided the MPs, but the contact time with contaminated soil was higher, as shown by the enhanced level of TBARs and AChE inhibition. However, no evidence of MPs uptake was recorded, thus it was not demonstrated that MPs can be carriers of pesticides to earthworms.
Additional keywords: acetylcholine, ecotoxicology, oxidative stress, terrestrial ecosystems, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances.
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