Ecotoxicological Effects of Microplastics on the Soil Environment

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecotoxicology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1197

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Geology, Research Institute for Earth Resources, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
Interests: micro(nano)plastic; climate change; soil carbon and nitrogen stock; antibiotics; microplastic measurement methods; toxicity

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Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
Interests: environmental biotechnology; microbial electrochemical systems; emerging contaminants; metal pollution

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Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
Interests: environmental engineering; microbiology; waste management; biochemical engineering/biotechnology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Humans are highly dependent on plastics from infancy to adolescence because of their outstanding properties, low cost, and versatility. In the long run, plastics can degrade into ubiquitous microplastics (MPs) that affect individuals at every stage of life. Also, some studies have illustrated that the presence of microplastics in soils arises from various other sources: groundwater, irrigation, and air. It is worth noting that the presence of microplastics in the soil compartment can be magnified by the presence of some associated contaminants, such as heavy metals and persistent organic contaminants. A couple of studies have reported that the presence of microplastics in soils affects the physical and chemical properties of soil. Despite an increased awareness of microplastic effects on environmental issues such as agriculture, ecological services, and soil fertility, little is known of the cumulative ecological effects of microplastics in the environment. To ensure that the effects of microplastics, which arise from the interactions of microplastics with the soil's biota, chemical composition, and physical structures, are properly understood and addressed, multidisciplinary approaches and studies are necessary. This Special Issue aims to explore the ecotoxicological effects of microplastics on the soil environment. We invite authors to submit short communications, review papers, and original research papers to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Rogers Wainkwa Chia
Dr. Charles Amanze
Dr. Modupe Elizabeth Ojewumi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • microplastics
  • soil ecosystems
  • soil fertility
  • food security
  • ecotoxicological risks
  • soil contamination
  • sustainable waste management

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 747 KiB  
Article
Thermoset Polyester Resin Microplastics: Effects on Enzymatic Biomarkers and Toxicological Endpoint Responses of Eisenia fetida Earthworms
by David Amaya-Vías, Gemma Albendín, Vanessa Aranda-Quirós, Rocío Rodríguez-Barroso, Dolores Coello and Juana María Arellano
Toxics 2025, 13(7), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13070602 - 17 Jul 2025
Viewed by 270
Abstract
Thermosets are plastic composite materials widely used in many industrial sectors of modern society with an increasing presence in the environment. The adverse effects of this material on environmental compartments and biota of thermosets are still unknown. In this work, we studied the [...] Read more.
Thermosets are plastic composite materials widely used in many industrial sectors of modern society with an increasing presence in the environment. The adverse effects of this material on environmental compartments and biota of thermosets are still unknown. In this work, we studied the potential effects of two thermoset polyester resin-derived microplastics (R930A-SP and R930A-DVE1) on the survival, behavior, morphological changes and subcellular damage of earthworms Eisenia fetida. The proposed experimental conditions simulated environmentally relevant concentrations, taking as a reference other related microplastics present in the environment. Thus, E. fetida specimens were exposed to five concentrations (100, 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg resin per kg soil) of these two resins for 14 days. At concentrations and exposure times studied, no significant effects on growth, measured as weight loss, or on the enzyme biomarkers (cholinesterase, carboxylesterase and glutathione S-transferase) were observed. Similarly, no behavioral changes were detected in earthworms, and the survival rate was 100%. Likewise, no differences were observed between the different formulations of the polyester resins studied. However, this study could serve as a starting point for further studies with higher concentrations and/or exposure times, as well as in combination with other pollutants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicological Effects of Microplastics on the Soil Environment)
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