Incorporation of microplastics from litter into burrows of Lumbricus terrestris
Pollution caused by plastic debris is an urgent environmental problem. Here, we assessed the effects of microplastics in the soil surface litter on the formation and characterization of burrows built by the anecic earthworm Lumbricus terrestris in soil and quantified the amount of microplastics that was transported and deposited in L. terrestris burrows. Worms were exposed to soil surface litter treatments containing microplastics (Low Density Polyethylene) for 2 weeks at concentrations of 0%, 7%, 28%, 45% and 60%. The latter representing environmentally realistic concentrations found in hot spot soil locations. There were significantly more burrows found when soil was exposed to the surface treatment composed of 7% microplastics than in all other treatments. The highest amount of organic matter in the walls of the burrows was observed after using the treatments containing 28 and 45% microplastics.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | Lombrices de tierra, Plásticos, Evaluación de riesgos, Contaminación de suelos, |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026974911631572X |
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