Microplastic transport in soil by earthworms

Abstract Despite great general benefits derived from plastic use, accumulation of plastic material in ecosystems, and especially microplastic, is becoming an increasing environmental concern. Microplastic has been extensively studied in aquatic environments, with very few studies focusing on soils....

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Autores principales:	Matthias C. Rillig, Lisa Ziersch, Stefan Hempel
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2017
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/e996deff0f604b79bd45da970813d12e
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id	oai:doaj.org-article:e996deff0f604b79bd45da970813d12e
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:e996deff0f604b79bd45da970813d12e2021-12-02T16:08:10ZMicroplastic transport in soil by earthworms10.1038/s41598-017-01594-72045-2322https://doaj.org/article/e996deff0f604b79bd45da970813d12e2017-05-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01594-7https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Despite great general benefits derived from plastic use, accumulation of plastic material in ecosystems, and especially microplastic, is becoming an increasing environmental concern. Microplastic has been extensively studied in aquatic environments, with very few studies focusing on soils. We here tested the idea that microplastic particles (polyethylene beads) could be transported from the soil surface down the soil profile via earthworms. We used Lumbricus terrestris L., an anecic earthworm species, in a factorial greenhouse experiment with four different microplastic sizes. Presence of earthworms greatly increased the presence of microplastic particles at depth (we examined 3 soil layers, each 3.5 cm deep), with smaller PE microbeads having been transported downward to a greater extent. Our study clearly shows that earthworms can be significant transport agents of microplastics in soils, incorporating this material into soil, likely via casts, burrows (affecting soil hydraulics), egestion and adherence to the earthworm exterior. This movement has potential consequences for exposure of other soil biota to microplastics, for the residence times of microplastic at greater depth, and for the possible eventual arrival of microplastics in the groundwater.Matthias C. RilligLisa ZierschStefan HempelNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 7, Iss 1, Pp 1-6 (2017)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Matthias C. Rillig Lisa Ziersch Stefan Hempel Microplastic transport in soil by earthworms
description	Abstract Despite great general benefits derived from plastic use, accumulation of plastic material in ecosystems, and especially microplastic, is becoming an increasing environmental concern. Microplastic has been extensively studied in aquatic environments, with very few studies focusing on soils. We here tested the idea that microplastic particles (polyethylene beads) could be transported from the soil surface down the soil profile via earthworms. We used Lumbricus terrestris L., an anecic earthworm species, in a factorial greenhouse experiment with four different microplastic sizes. Presence of earthworms greatly increased the presence of microplastic particles at depth (we examined 3 soil layers, each 3.5 cm deep), with smaller PE microbeads having been transported downward to a greater extent. Our study clearly shows that earthworms can be significant transport agents of microplastics in soils, incorporating this material into soil, likely via casts, burrows (affecting soil hydraulics), egestion and adherence to the earthworm exterior. This movement has potential consequences for exposure of other soil biota to microplastics, for the residence times of microplastic at greater depth, and for the possible eventual arrival of microplastics in the groundwater.
format	article
author	Matthias C. Rillig Lisa Ziersch Stefan Hempel
author_facet	Matthias C. Rillig Lisa Ziersch Stefan Hempel
author_sort	Matthias C. Rillig
title	Microplastic transport in soil by earthworms
title_short	Microplastic transport in soil by earthworms
title_full	Microplastic transport in soil by earthworms
title_fullStr	Microplastic transport in soil by earthworms
title_full_unstemmed	Microplastic transport in soil by earthworms
title_sort	microplastic transport in soil by earthworms
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2017
url	https://doaj.org/article/e996deff0f604b79bd45da970813d12e
work_keys_str_mv	AT matthiascrillig microplastictransportinsoilbyearthworms AT lisaziersch microplastictransportinsoilbyearthworms AT stefanhempel microplastictransportinsoilbyearthworms
_version_	1718384626805768192

Microplastic transport in soil by earthworms

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