Metal Release from Microplastics to Soil: Effects on Soil Enzymatic Activities and Spinach Production

Giorgia Santini, Valeria Memoli (), Ermenegilda Vitale, Gabriella Di Natale, Marco Trifuoggi, Giulia Maisto and Lucia Santorufo
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Giorgia Santini: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
Valeria Memoli: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
Ermenegilda Vitale: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
Gabriella Di Natale: CeSMA—Centre of Meteorologic and Avanced Thecnology Services, University of Naples Federico II, Nicolangelo Protopisani Course, San Giovanni a Teduccio, 80146 Naples, Italy
Marco Trifuoggi: Department of Chemistry, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
Giulia Maisto: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
Lucia Santorufo: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) represent emergent pollutants in terrestrial ecosystems. Microplastics can cause the release of metal and damage to crop quality. The present research aimed to evaluate the effects of Mater-bi (Bio-MPs) and polyethylene (PE-MPs) MPs at different concentrations on soil properties and on the growth of Spinacia oleracea L. Plants were grown in 30 pots filled with soil mixed with 0.5, 1 and 2% d.w. of Bio-MPs and PE-MPs and in 5 pots filled only with soil, considered as controls (K). At the end of the vegetative cycle, the spinach plants were evaluated for the epigeal (EPI) and hypogeal (HYPO) biomasses and the ratio of HYPO/EPI was calculated. In the soil, the total and the available fractions of Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb and the hydrolase (HA), β-glucosidase (β-glu), dehydrogenase (DHA) and urease (U) activities were evaluated. The results revealed that the addition of Bio-MPs increased soil total Cr, Cu and Pb and available Cu concentrations, and the addition of PE-MPs increased Pb availability. In soil contaminated by both Bio-MPs and PE-MPs, HA and β-glu activities were stimulated, whereas DHA activity was reduced. The HYPO and HYPO/EPI biomasses were reduced only in soils contaminated by the 2% Bio-MPs.

Keywords: agroecosystem; microplastics; bio-microplastics; enzymatic activities; soil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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