Hodson, Mark Edward orcid.org/0000-0002-8166-1526, Duffus-Hodson, Calum, Clark, Andy et al. (2 more authors) (2017) Plastic bag derived-microplastics as a vector for metal exposure in terrestrial invertebrates. Environmental Science and Technology. pp. 4714-4721. ISSN 1520-5851
Abstract
Microplastics are widespread contaminants in terrestrial environments but comparatively little is known about interactions between microplastics and common terrestrial contaminants such as zinc (Zn). In adsorption experiments fragmented HDPE bags c. 1 mm2 in size showed similar sorption characteristics to soil. However, when present in combination with soil, concentrations of adsorbed Zn on a per mass basis were over an order of magnitude lower on microplastics . Desorption of the Zn was minimal from both microplastics and soil in synthetic soil solution (0.01 M CaCl2), but in synthetic earthworm guts desorption was higher from microplastics (40 – 60%) than soil (2 – 15 %), suggesting microplastics could increase Zn bioavailability. Individual Lumbricus terrestris earthworms exposed for 28 days in mesocosms of 260 g moist soil containing 0.35 wt% of Zn-bearing microplastic (236-4505 mg kg-1) ingested the microplastics, but there was no evidence of Zn accumulation, mortality or weight change. Digestion of the earthworms showed that they did not retain microplastics in their gut. These findings indicate that microplastics could act as vectors to increase metal exposure in earthworms, but that the associated risk is unlikely to be significant for essential metals such as Zn that are well regulated by metabolic processes.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017, American Chemical Society. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details. |
Keywords: | earthworm,microplastic,metal,zinc,ecotoxicology,soil |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Environment and Geography (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 03 Apr 2017 12:00 |
Last Modified: | 08 Nov 2024 01:19 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b00635 |
Status: | Published online |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1021/acs.est.7b00635 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:114450 |
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Filename: Microplastics_metals_and_earthworms_paper_240317.docx
Description: Microplastics, metals and earthworms paper 240317