Microplastic pollution destabilized the osmoregulatory metabolism but did not affect intestinal microbial biodiversity of earthworms in soil. (1st March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Ronggui; Ying, Minshen; Luo, Yongming; El-Naggar, Ali; Palansooriya, Kumuduni Niroshika; Sun, Tao; Cao, Yutao; Diao, Zhihan; Zhang, Yuxin; Lian, Yichen; Chen, Keyi; Yan, Yan; Lu, Xinghang; Cai, Yanjiang; Chang, Scott X.
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 320(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-03-01
• Subjects: Bacteroidetes, Eisenia fetida, Environmentally relevant concentrations, Gut microorganisms, Metabolomics, Osmoregulatory metabolism; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Metabolomic and gut microbial responses of soil fauna to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics indicate the potential molecular toxicity of microplastics; however, limited data exist on these responses. In this study, earthworms ( Eisenia fetida ) were exposed to spherical (25–30 μm diameter) polystyrene microplastic-contaminated soil (0.02%, w:w) for 14 days. Changes in weight, survival rate, intestinal microbiota and metabolic responses of the earthworms were assessed. The results showed that polystyrene microplastics did not influence the weight, survival rate, or biodiversity of the gut microbiota, but significantly decreased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes at the phylum level. Moreover, polystyrene microplastics disturbed the osmoregulatory metabolism of earthworms, as indicated by the significantly decreased betaine, myo-inositol and lactate, and increased 2-hexyl-5-ethyl-furan-3-sulfonic acid at the metabolic level. This study provides important insights into the molecular toxicity of environmentally relevant concentrations of polystyrene microplastics on soil fauna. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Molecular toxicity of spherical polystyrene microplastics (PS MPs, 25–30 μm) was assessed. PS MPs (0.02%, w/w) disturbed the osmoregulatory metabolism of earthworms. PS MPs did not affect intestinal microbial biodiversity of earthworms. PS MPs significantly decreased the abundance of Bacteroidetes of earthworms.