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SLU publication database (SLUpub) (stage, solr2:8983)

Abstract

Microplastic (MP) exposure of the terrestrial environment is increasingly reported, but exposure levels may change due to transport processes. MPs occur in different shapes. Particularly MP fibres can affect soil structure and soil organisms. Earthworms are important contributors to particle movement in soils, yet their influence on the redistribution of MP fibres remains poorly understood. This study investigated if the deep-burrowing earthworm Lumbricus terrestris enhances vertical MP fibre transport and whether fibre length affects ingestion and transport distance. We measured the mass-based redistribution of MP fibres by L. terrestris using repacked soil columns spiked with metal-doped polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres (median length 0.750 mm). Additionally, number concentrations and MP lengths were determined by optical microscopy. The transported MP mass-fraction increased from two to four weeks (5.7 to 9.0 % of MP mass), with most transport occurring during the first two weeks. L. terrestris preferentially transported smaller MP fibres, indicated by a depthdependent decrease in MP fibre lengths, likely due to easier ingestion. However, absolute differences in MP fibre lengths across depth (

Keywords

Terrestrial; Bioturbation; Earthworms; Metal-doped; Fate; Exposure; Ingestion

Published in

Geoderma
2026, volume: 468, article number: 117768
Publisher: ELSEVIER

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences
Soil Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2026.117768

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/146606