Impact of environmentally relevant nano- and micro-plastics on soil invertebrates (ARRS J1-2482)

In recent years, microplastics pollution has become one of the major public environmental concerns expressed throughout the globe. Although terrestrial environment is a substantial source and sink of microplastics pollution, there is still a lack of comparative knowledge regarding potential sublethal effects that nano- and micro-plastics (NMPs) may have on terrestrial organisms. The main objective of this project is to investigate the impact of environmentally relevant NMPs on terrestrial invertebrates. Environmental relevance will be considered in terms of tested plastic particles, which will be derived from relevant materials commonly found in agricultural soil, and by subjecting NMPs to environmental weathering. Nano- and microplastics will be milled from plastic source materials such as for example car tyres, agricultural plastic mulch and textiles. Terrestrial organisms with different ecological roles and soil niches will be studied: the woodlice Porcellio scaber, white earthworm Enchytraeus crypticus and mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor. They will be exposed to NMPs via soil exposure and afterwards whole-organism endpoints such as the feeding rate, growth, energy reserves and survival will be followed. The ingestion, fragmentation and retention of microplastics in the gut will be investigated using light and electron microscopy. Immune-related parameters will be followed using spectrophotometric analysis and expression of selected immune-related genes. Proteome analysis of haemolymph will also be done to complement gene expression analysis interpretation as well as to elucidate antioxidant and detoxification processes. Knowledge regarding microplastics effects on terrestrial organisms will contribute to in-depth understanding of potential hazard posed by nano- and microplastics.

Work packages and approach

Consortium

Biotechnical Faculty (Department of Biology, Department of Animal Science, prof. Mojca Narat)

Institute Jozef Stefan (IJS) (prof. dr. Igor Križaj, doc.dr. Andrijana Leonardi)

Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG) (doc. dr. Andrijana Sever Škapin, dr. Luka Škrlep)

Partners from abroad:

Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam; prof. Cornelis A. M. (Kees) van Gestel

Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, dr. Salla Selonen

Publications

  • SELONEN, Salla, JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita, BENGUEDOUAR, Hiba, ALAVIAN PETROODY, S. S., DOLAR, Andraž, DROBNE, Damjana, GESTEL, Cornelis A. M. van. Modulation of chlorpyrifos toxicity to soil arthropods by simultaneous exposure to polyester microfibers or tire particle microplastics. Applied soil ecology. 2022, 70, 8, 557-569
  • DOLAR, Andraž, DROBNE, Damjana, NARAT, Mojca, JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita. Tire microplastics exposure in soil induces changes in expression profile of immune-related genes in terrestrial crustacean Porcellio scaber. Environmental pollution. [Print ed.].  2022, vol. 314, 1-9
  • DOLAR, Andraž, JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita, DROBNE, Damjana. Time-course of the innate immune response of the terrestrial crustacean Porcellio scaber after injection of a single dose of lipopolysaccharide. Frontiers in immunology, 2022, vol. 13, 1-14
  • JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita, DOLAR, Andraž, DROBNE, Damjana, ŠKRLEP, Luka, SEVER ŠKAPIN, Andrijana, MAROLT, Gregor, NAGODE, Ana, GESTEL, Cornelis A. M. van. Effects of microplastics from disposable medical masks on terrestrial invertebrates. Journal of hazardous materials, in press
  • JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita, DOLAR, Andraž, DROBNE, Damjana, MARINŠEK, Marjan, DOLENEC, Matej, ŠKRLEP, Luka, STRMLJAN, Gregor, MUŠIČ, Branka, SEVER ŠKAPIN, Andrijana. Environmental hazard of polypropylene microplastics from disposable medical masks : acute toxicity towards Daphnia magna and current knowledge on other polypropylene microplastics. Microplastics and nanoplastics. 2022, vol. 2, 1-15
  • ROZMAN, Ula, JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita, DOLAR, Andraž, DROBNE, Damjana, KALČÍKOVÁ, Gabriela. Long-term interactions between microplastics and floating macrophyte Lemna minor : the potential for phytoremediation of microplastics in the aquatic environment. Science of the total environment. 2022, vol. 831, 1-9
  • DOLAR, Andraž, DROBNE, Damjana, DOLENEC, Matej, MARINŠEK, Marjan, JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita. Time-dependent immune response in Porcellio scaber following exposure to microplastics and natural particles. Science of the total environment., 2022, vol. 818, 1-10
  • DOLAR, Andraž, DROBNE, Damjana, KOSTANJŠEK, Rok, JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita. Imunski sistem pri rakih : predstavitev raziskav s kopenskim rakom Porcellio scaber = Immune system in crustaceans : a presentation of research with terrestrial crustacean Porcellio scaber. Acta biologica slovenica : ABS.. 2021, 64, 1, 18-35
  • JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita, KÜHNEL, Dana. Are nanoplastics hazardous? : the way forward to overcome the uncertainties of risk assessment. EUON : European Union observatory for nanomaterials.
  • JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita, DOLAR, Andraž, TITOVA, Jelizaveta, VISNAPUU, Meeri, ŠKRLEP, Luka, DROBNE, Damjana, VIJA, Heiki, KISAND, Vambola, HEINLAAN, Margit. Long term exposure to virgin and recycled ldpe microplastics induced minor effects in the freshwater and terrestrial crustaceans Daphnia magna and Porcellio scaber. Polymers, 2021, iss. 5, 771, 1-17
  • DOLAR, Andraž, SELONEN, Salla, GESTEL, Cornelis A. M. van, PERC, Valentina, DROBNE, Damjana, JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita. Microplastics, chlorpyrifos and their mixtures modulate immune processes in the terrestrial crustacean Porcellio scaber. Science of the total environment, 2021, 772,  144900
  • JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita, HARTMANN, Nanna B., DROBNE, Damjana, POTTHOFF, Annegret, KÜHNEL, Dana. Quality of nanoplastics and microplastics ecotoxicity studies : refining quality criteria for nanomaterial studies. Journal of hazardous materials, 2021, 415, 1-12.
  • SELONEN, Salla, DOLAR, Andraž, JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita, SACKEY, Lyndon N.A., SKALAR, Tina, CRUZ FERNANDES, Virgínia, REDE, Diana, DELERUE-MATOS, Cristina, HURLEY, Rachel, NIZZETTO, Luca, GESTEL, Cornelis A. M. van. Exploring the impacts of microplastics and associated chemicals in the terrestrial environment : exposure of soil invertebrates to tire particles. Environmental research : multidisciplinary journal of environmental sciences, ecology, and public health, 2021, 1-32

Recent conferences

  • DOLAR, Andraž, MUŠIČ, Branka, SEVER ŠKAPIN, Andrijana, DROBNE, Damjana, JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita. Effects of microplastics from cigarette filters on terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates. V: MICRO 2022 : plastic pollution from macro to nano : international conference : 14-18 November 2022 : online atlas edition.
  • JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita, DOLAR, Andraž, DROBNE, Damjana. Overview of the impacts of microplastics on terrestrial crustacean Porcellio scaber : from immune response to higher-tier levels. V: MICRO 2022 : plastic pollution from macro to nano : international conference : 14-18 November 2022 : online atlas edition.
  • DOLAR, Andraž, DROBNE, Damjana, NARAT, Mojca, JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita. Expression of immune-related genes in haemocytes of Porcellio scaber after exposure to microplastics in soil : a case of tyre particles. V: Towards a reduced pollution society : abstract book. SETAC Europe 32nd Annual Meeting, 15-19 May 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • POTTHOFF, Annegret, MÜLLER-KÖHN, Axel, JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita, KÜHNEL, Dana. How to investigate additive-related effects from microplastics?. V: Towards a reduced pollution society : abstract book. SETAC Europe 32nd Annual Meeting, 15-19 May 2022
  • JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita, DOLAR, Andraž, NAGODE, Ana, DROBNE, Damjana, ŠKRLEP, Luka, SEVER ŠKAPIN, Andrijana, GESTEL, Cornelis A. M. van. Long-term impacts of microplastics from disposable medical masks on terrestrial invertebrates. V: Towards a reduced pollution society : abstract book. SETAC Europe 32nd Annual Meeting, 15-19 May 2022
  • NAGODE, Ana, DOLAR, Andraž, DROBNE, Damjana, JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita. Effects of microplastics from disposable medical masks on terrestrial invertebrates. V: HORVAT, Monika (ur.), et al. Cutting Edge 2021 : Scientific conference for young researchers : Independent in science : Thursday, 16. 09. 21, virtual conference : book of abstracts. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za kemijo in kemijsko tehnologijo. 2021.
  • DOLAR, Andraž, DROBNE, Damjana, JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita. Innate immunity in the common woodlouse Porcellio scaber : some novel biomarkers. V: Facets of terrestrial isopod biology : abstract book, 11th International Symposium on Terrestrial Isopod Biology, online edition, July 12-14, 2021.
  • JEMEC KOKALJ, Anita, HARTMANN, Nanna B., POTTHOFF, Annegret, DROBNE, Damjana, KÜHNEL, Dana. Quality of nanoplastics and microplastics ecotoxicity studies : refining nanomaterial-related quality criteria. V: Global challenges, an emergency for environmental sciences : abstract book : SETAC Europe 31st Annual Meeting, 3-6 May 2021, virtual, SETAC Europe 31st Annual Meeting, 3-6 May 2021

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