Two types of microplastics (polystyrene-HBCD and car tire abrasion) affect oxidative stress-related biomarkers in earthworm Eisenia andrei in a time-dependent manner

Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved..

Microplastics are small plastic fragments that are widely distributed in marine and terrestrial environments. While the soil ecosystem represents a large reservoir for plastic, research so far has focused mainly on the impact on aquatic ecosystems and there is a lack of information on the potentially adverse effects of microplastics on soil biota. Earthworms are key organisms of the soil ecosystem and are due to their crucial role in soil quality and fertility a suitable and popular model organism in soil ecotoxicology. Therefore, the aim of this study was to gain insight into the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics on the earthworm Eisenia andrei on multiple levels of biological organization after different exposure periods. Earthworms were exposed to two types of microplastics: (1) polystyrene-HBCD and (2) car tire abrasion in natural soil for 2, 7, 14 and 28d. Acute and chronic toxicity and all subcellular investigations were conducted for all exposure times, avoidance behavior assessed after 48 h and reproduction after 28d. Subcellular endpoints included enzymatic biomarker responses, namely, carboxylesterase, glutathione peroxidase, acetylcholinesterase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase and catalase activities, as well as fluorescence-based measurements of oxidative stress-related markers and multixenobiotic resistance activity. Multiple biomarkers showed significant changes in activity, but a recovery of most enzymatic activities could be observed after 28d. Overall, only minor effects could be observed on a subcellular level, showing that in this exposure scenario with environmentally relevant concentrations based on German pollution levels the threat to soil biota is minimal. However, in areas with higher concentrations of microplastics in the environment, these results can be interpreted as an early warning signal for more adverse effects. In conclusion, these findings provide new insights regarding the ecotoxicological effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics on soil organisms.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2022

Erschienen:

2022

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:163

Enthalten in:

Environment international - 163(2022) vom: 30. Mai, Seite 107190

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Lackmann, Carina [VerfasserIn]
Velki, Mirna [VerfasserIn]
Šimić, Antonio [VerfasserIn]
Müller, Axel [VerfasserIn]
Braun, Ulrike [VerfasserIn]
Ečimović, Sandra [VerfasserIn]
Hollert, Henner [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Acetylcholinesterase
Biomarker
Biomarkers
EC 3.1.1.7
Earthworms
Journal Article
Microplastics
Oxidative stress
Plastics
Polystyrenes
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Soil
Soil Pollutants
Toxicity

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 26.04.2022

Date Revised 05.05.2022

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.envint.2022.107190

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM33847143X