By: Aishwarya Sharma and Shailja Kumari
Globally, the plastic pollution has become a major issue that poses a major threat to the soil ecosystem. Plastic degradation is a quite challenging process as plastic persists in the environment for longer durations causing harm to surrounding flora and fauna. Polyethylene is most abundantly found as a contaminant in the environment. It may enter the food chain causing harm to health. The dynamics of microplastic pollution in soils, as compared to aquatic environments, are nuanced and influenced by diverse factors, including sources, transport mechanisms, and interactions within the soil matrix. The prevalence of microplastic pollution in terrestrial systems, particularly soils, highlights the need for comprehensive research and management strategies to address this environmental issue. In response to these environmental challenges, research in nanoscience has gained momentum, particularly in the synthesis of nanoparticles. These nanometer-scale particles can be engineered to have various shapes, sizes, and degrees of uniformity, making them highly versatile for a wide range of applications like environmental remediation. In the current experimental study the synergetic action of Eisenia fetida and ZnO bacterial nanoparticles synthesized from Bacillus cereus showed promising result with context to LDPE microplastic degradation. LDPE Microplastic degradation was confirmed by FTIR and SEM analysis. Morphological changes like fractures on the polymer surface were observed in SEM, and changes in functional groups were reported in FTIR analysis. This opened new doors for more research with context to the bioremediation potential of earthworm species and their gut microflora through and eco- friendly approach.
Key words: Earthworm, Microplastic, Bacteria, Soil, Nanoparticles
Citation:
Refrences:
1. Albertsson, A. C. (2000). Biodegradation of polymers in historical perspective versus modern polymer chemistry. In Handbook of polymer degradation (pp. 445-464). CRC Press.
2. Aulakh RK, Hundal SS and Singh J. (2022) Earthworm ecotoxicology: role of heavy metals and nanoparticles. Earthworms and their ecological significance, 335.
3. Binda G, Zanetti G, Bellasi A, Spanu D, Boldrocchi G, Bettinetti R, Pozzi A and Nizzetto L. (2023) Physicochemical and biological ageing processes of (micro) plastics in the environment: a multi-tiered study on polyethylene. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(3), 6298- 6312.
4. Campanale C, Savino I, Massarelli C and Uricchio VF. (2023) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to assess the degree of alteration of artificially aged and environmentally weathered microplastics. Polymers, 15(4), 911.
5. Elahi A, Bukhari DA, Shamim S and Rehman A. (2021) Plastics degradation by microbes: A sustainable approach. Journal of King Saud University-Science, 33(6), 101538.
6. Falciglia PP, Roccaro P, Bonanno L, De Guidi G, Vagliasindi FG and Romano S. (2018) A review on the microwave heating as a sustainable technique for environmental remediation/detoxification applications. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 95, pp.147-170.
7. Fotopoulou KN and Karapanagioti HK. (2019) Degradation of various plastics in the environment. Hazardous chemicals associated with plastics in the marine environment, 71-92.
8. Gniadek M and Dąbrowska A. (2019) The marine nano-and microplastics characterisation by SEM-EDX: the potential of the method in comparison with various physical and chemical approaches. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 148, 210-216.
9. Goh PS, Kang HS, Ismail AF, Khor WH, Quen LK and Higgins D. (2022) Nanomaterials for microplastic remediation from aquatic environment: Why nano matters?. Chemosphere, 299, 134418.
10. Guerra FD, Attia MF, Whitehead DC and Alexis F. (2018) Nanotechnology for environmental remediation: materials and applications. Molecules, 23(7), 1760.
11. Julienne F, Delorme N and Lagarde F. (2019) From macroplastics to microplastics: Role of water in the fragmentation of polyethylene. Chemosphere, 236, 124409.
12. Khaldoon S, Lalung J, Maheer U, Kamaruddin MA, Yhaya MF, Alsolami ES, Alorfi HS, Hussein MA and Rafatullah M. (2022) A review on the role of earthworms in plastics degradation: Issues and challenges. Polymers, 14(21), 4770.
13. Ma H, Pu S, Liu S, Bai Y, Mandal S and Xing B. (2020) Microplastics in aquatic environments: toxicity to trigger ecological consequences. Environmental Pollution, 261, 114089.
14. Onyena AP, Folorunso OM, Nwanganga N, Udom GJ, Ekhator OC, Frazzoli C, Ruggieri F, Bocca B and Orisakwe OE. (2024) Engaging one health in heavy metal pollution in some selected Nigerian Niger delta cities. A Systematic review of pervasiveness, bioaccumulation and subduing environmental health challenges. Biological Trace Element Research, 202(4), 1356-1389.
15. Pagar RR, Musale SR, Pawar G, Kulkarni D and Giram PS. (2022) Comprehensive review on the degradation chemistry and toxicity studies of functional materials. ACS biomaterials science &engineering, 8(6), 2161-2195.
16. Pandit J, Alam MS, Ansari JR, Singhal M, Gupta N, Waziri A, Sharma K and Pottoo FH. (2022)Multifaced applications of nanoparticles in biological science. In Nanomaterials in the battle against pathogens and disease vectors 17-50 CRC Press.
17. Prata JC, Silva ALP, Da Costa JP, Mouneyrac C, Walker TR, Duarte AC and Rocha-Santos T. (2019) Solutions and integrated strategies for the control and mitigation of plastic and microplastic pollution. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(13), p.2411.
18. Raman APS, Jain P and Singh P. (2024) Microplastics: Properties, Effect on the Environment and Removal Methods. Toxic Effects of Micro‐and Nanoplastics: Environment, Food and Human Health, 125-137.
19. Roy R, Samanta S, Pandit S, Naaz T, Banerjee S, Rawat JM, Chaubey KK and Saha RP. (2024) An overview of bacteria-mediated heavy metal bioremediation strategies. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 196(3), 1712-1751.
20. Shafea L, Yap J, Beriot N, Felde VJ, Okoffo ED, Enyoh CE and Peth S. (2023) Microplastics in agroecosystems: A review of effects on soil biota and key soil functions. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 186(1), 5-22.
21. Shruti VC, Pérez-Guevara F and Kutralam-Muniasamy G. (2021) The current state of microplastic pollution in the world's largest gulf and its future directions. Environmental Pollution, 291, 118142.
22. Sorasan, C, Edo C, González-Pleiter M, Fernández-Piñas F, Leganés F, Rodríguez A and Rosal R. (2021) Generation of nanoplastics during the photoageing of low-density polyethylene. Environmental Pollution, 289, 117919.
23. Sridharan S, Kumar M, Bolan NS, Singh L, Kumar S, Kumar R and You S. (2021) Are microplastics destabilizing the global network of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem services? Environmental Research, 198, 111243.
24. Thacharodi A, Hassan S, Meenatchi R, Bhat MA, Hussain N, Arockiaraj J, Ngo HH, Sharma A, Nguyen HT and Pugazhendhi A. (2024) Mitigating microplastic pollution: A critical review on the effects, remediation, and utilization strategies of microplastics. Journal of Environmental Management, 351, 119988.
25. Tian R, Li K, Lin Y, Lu C and Duan X. (2023) Characterization techniques of polymer aging: from beginning to end. Chemical Reviews 123(6), 3007-3088.
26. Tribedi, P., Gupta, A. D., & Sil, A. K. (2015). Adaptation of Pseudomonas sp. AKS2 in biofilm on low-density polyethylene surface: an effective strategy for efficient survival and polymer degradation. Bioresources and Bioprocessing, 2, 1-10.
27. Zhang K, Hamidian AH, Tubić A, Zhang Y, Fang JK, Wu C and Lam PK. (2021) Understanding plastic degradation and microplastic formation in the environment: A review. Environmental Pollution, 274, 116554.
28. Zurier, HS and Goddard JM. (2021) Biodegradation of microplastics in food and agriculture. Current Opinion in Food Science, 37, 37-44.
