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2d ago

Study Finds Microplastics in One in Ten Soil Insects, Earthworms Worst Hit

By revealing plastic pollution in soil insects, the study highlights risks to biodiversity through food chain contamination.

An unrecognisable farmer crouching down in an agricultural wheat field at his sustainable farm in Embleton, North East England. He has soil in his hands and is assessing the quality of the soil that the wheat crop is growing out of. The wheat is first wheat, it will be used for low quality flour in baking and will be harvested in early September.

Overview

  • Researchers sampled over 580 insects across 51 sites in the UK, covering gardens, grasslands and farmland.
  • Earthworms exhibited a 30% microplastic contamination rate; slugs and snails each showed around 24% presence.
  • Polyester fibers, likely shed from clothing and released via sewage sludge, were the most prevalent plastic type found.
  • Insects contaminated with microplastics risk passing particles to predators such as songbirds, mammals and reptiles.
  • Ingested microplastics in soil invertebrates could disrupt essential functions like nutrient cycling and aeration, potentially hindering plant growth.