Xiao, Xiao, Sallach, Brett orcid.org/0000-0003-4588-3364 and Hodson, Mark Edward orcid.org/0000-0002-8166-1526 (2024) Microplastics and metals:microplastics generated from biodegradable polylactic acid mulch reduce bioaccumulation of cadmium in earthworms compared to those generated from polyethylene. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety. 116746. ISSN 0147-6513
Abstract
Biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) mulch has been developed to replace conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch in agriculture as a response to growing concerns about recalcitrant plastic pollution and the accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in soil. Cadmium is a significant soil pollutant in China. MPs have been shown to adsorb metals. In this study the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris was exposed to either Cd (1.0 - 100 mg / kg) or MPs (PE and PLA, 0.1 - 3 % w / w), or a combination of the two, for 28 days. Cd bioavailability significantly decreased in the presence of MPs. In particular, at the end of the experiment, PLA treatments had lower measured Cd concentrations in both earthworms (2.127 - 29.24 mg / kg) and pore water (below detection limits - 0.1384 mg /L) relative to PE treatments (2.720 - 33.77 mg / kg and below detection limits - 0.2489 mg / L). In our adsorption experiment PLA MPs adsorbed significantly more Cd than PE MPs with maximum adsorption capacities of 126.0 and 23.2 mg / kg respectively. These results suggest that the PLA MPs reduce earthworm exposure to Cd relative to PE by removing it from solution and reducing its bioavailability.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024 The Author(s). |
Keywords: | Lumbricus terrestris,soil pore water,adsorption,bioavailability |
Dates: |
|
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: | 15 Jul 2024 13:50 |
Last Modified: | 03 Dec 2024 01:18 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116746 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116746 |
Sustainable Development Goals: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:214836 |
Download
Filename: 1-s2.0-S0147651324008224-main.pdf
Description: Microplastics and metals: Microplastics generated from biodegradable polylactic acid mulch reduce bioaccumulation of cadmium in earthworms compared to those generated from polyethylene
Licence: CC-BY 2.5