Microplastic fibers influence Ag toxicity and bioaccumulation in Eisenia andrei but not in Enchytraeus crypticus

Abstract

Microplastic bers (MF) are released from synthetic textiles during washing and end up in the wastewater. Similarly, silver nanoparticles (AgNP), incorporated in textiles as antimicrobial agents, are released in washing machines, also reaching the wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, both MF and AgNP co-exist in the environment, and enter the soil compartment mainly via the application of biosolids.Yet, the combined effect of MF and AgNP has not been studied. Here, we assessed the effects of polyester MF (0.01% DW) on the toxicity of AgNP (32, 100, 320, 1000, 3200 mg Ag/kg) and AgNO 3 (12.8, 32, 80, 200, 500 mg Ag/kg) to the earthworm Eisenia andrei and the enchytraeid Enchytraeus crypticus. The exposure to MF caused a decrease in the number of juveniles and changed the biochemical composition of earthworms. Moreover, the presence of MF increased the toxicity of AgNP to earthworm reproduction (EC50 = 165 mg Ag/kg) when compared to AgNP exposure alone (EC50 = 450 mg Ag/kg), but did not alter the toxicity of AgNO 3 (EC50 = 40 mg Ag/kg). For enchytraeids, no signi cant difference in Ag toxicity could be detected when MF was added to the soil for both AgNP and AgNO 3 . Overall, Ag bioaccumulation was not affected by MF, with the exception of a decrease in earthworm body concentration at the highest Ag soil concentration (3200 mg Ag/kg). Our results suggest that the presence of MF in the soil compartment may be a cause of concern, and that the joint exposure to Ag may be deleterious depending on the Ag form, organism and endpoint. The present work provides the rst evidence that a realistic MF concentration in soil lowers AgNP concentration necessary to provoke reproductive impairment in earthworms. The in uence of MF on risk assessment of AgNP should be considered.

A Systematic Review of Nano- and Microplastic (NMP) Influence on the Bioaccumulation of Environmental Contaminants: Part I—Soil Organisms

“…The potworm, Enchytraeus crypticus , was only used in one experiment, which did not find differences in bioaccumulation of Ag, as nanoparticles or AgNO 3 , when exposed along with PET MP [ 25 ].…”

“…The presence of NMP could also decrease the bioaccumulation of contaminants, as shown by many studies. Similarly, NMP affected the bioavailable fraction of contaminants, but in this case, decreased the bioaccumulation in both earthworms [ 25 , 29 , 45 , 46 ] and plants [ 26 , 28 , 47 , 48 ]. This was observed for metals and organic compounds, such as phenanthrene and PCBs [ 28 , 29 , 46 ].…”

Improving Membrane Filtration for Copper Speciation: Optimal Salt Pretreatments of Polyethersulfone Membranes to Prevent Analyte Retention

“…Therefore, they chose the use of filters with this Cu pretreatment as the preferred separation method for Ag- and Ce-containing solutions. This approach has been widely used and is accepted for UF in studies on silver and silver sulfide nanomaterials. − However, a similar approach to prevent the retention of Cu 2+ when using UF has not been published so far.…”

The effect of polystyrene microplastic and biosolid application on the toxicity and bioaccumulation of cadmium for Enchytraeus crypticus

“…To observe links between MPs and their potential impacts on soil, soil‐dwelling invertebrates were used (Huerta Lwanga et al, 2017; Rodriguez‐Seijo et al, 2017). In particular, studies were carried out on Eisenia andrei and Folsomia candida (Maaß et al, 2017; J. Wang et al, 2019); however, MP toxicity studies of Enchytraeus crypticus species are limited (Lahive et al, 2019a; Pflugmacher et al, 2020; Tourinho et al, 2021).…”

“…In particular, studies were carried out on Eisenia andrei and Folsomia candida (Maaß et al, 2017;J. Wang et al, 2019); however, MP toxicity studies of Enchytraeus crypticus species are limited (Lahive et al, 2019a;Pflugmacher et al, 2020;Tourinho et al, 2021).…”