Effects of Different Microplastics on Nematodes in the Soil Environment: Tracking the Extractable Additives using an Ecotoxicological Approach

Abstract

With an increasing interest in the effects of microplastic in the soil environment, there is a need to thoroughly evaluate potential adverse effects of these particles as a function of their characteristics (size, shape, and composition). In addition, extractable chemical additives from microplastic have been identified as an important toxicity pathway in the aquatic environment. However, we currently know little about effects of such additives in the soil environment. In this study on nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans), we adopted an ecotoxicological approach to assess the potential effects of thirteen different microplastics with different characteristics and extractable additives. We found that toxic effects appear to increase in the order of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film View larger version (25K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@83ac34org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@9ea9fcorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@a9fb67org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1b85de6_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG