Assessing the Potencial Toxicity Effects of Microplastic Particles of Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate on Terrestrial Organism Eisenia fetida

abstract

English

Microplastics are recognized worldwide as a threat to soil ecosystems. Soils can be contaminated with microplastics through the application of sewage sludge applied as fertilizers and wastewater, plastic mulching, littering, tire abrasion, and atmospheric deposition. The microplastics present in the soil could affect its physical properties, such as the water retention capacity (WHC), processes such as soil agregation, the performance and composition of the soil microbial community, the soil fauna, and the flora. Many plastics items are manufactured from durable polymers, such as polyethylene, which is not considered biodegradable and can persist in the environment for decades. Soil fauna is critical for maintaining healthy soil. Earthworms are one of the most important and are considered key ecosystem engineers and bioindicators of environmental quality. Microplastics can be easily ingested by soil-living organisms, potentially affecting their fitness and survival. Furthermore, microplastics could absorb harmful contaminants from soil solution and locally concentrate them in the soil.

microplastics, P3HB, ecotoxicology, earthworms

PROCHÁZKOVÁ, P.; ZLÁMALOVÁ GARGOŠOVÁ, H.

1. 12. 2021

Serbian Chemical Society

Belgrade

978-86-7132-078-8

Book of abstracts/ 21st European Meeting of Environmental Chemistry, EMEC 21

158

158

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