The Effects of Agricultural Plastic Waste on the Vermicompost Process and Health Status of <i>Eisenia fetida</i>
José A. Sáez,
Angie M. Pedraza Torres,
Zbigniew Emil Blesa Marco,
Francisco Javier Andreu-Rodríguez,
Frutos C. Marhuenda-Egea,
Encarnación Martínez-Sabater,
María J. López,
Francisca Suarez-Estrella,
Raúl Moral
Affiliations
José A. Sáez
Center of Research and Innovation in Agri-Food and Agro-Environmental (CIAGRO-UMH), GIAAMA Research Group, University Miguel Hernández, Carretera de Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, Spain
Angie M. Pedraza Torres
Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, Institute of Environmental Science (ICAM), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Carlos III, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Zbigniew Emil Blesa Marco
Center of Research and Innovation in Agri-Food and Agro-Environmental (CIAGRO-UMH), GIAAMA Research Group, University Miguel Hernández, Carretera de Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, Spain
Francisco Javier Andreu-Rodríguez
Center of Research and Innovation in Agri-Food and Agro-Environmental (CIAGRO-UMH), GIAAMA Research Group, University Miguel Hernández, Carretera de Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, Spain
Frutos C. Marhuenda-Egea
Department of Agrochemistry and Biochemistry, Multidisciplinary for Environmental Studies Ramón Margalef, Carretera San Vicent del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Encarnación Martínez-Sabater
Center of Research and Innovation in Agri-Food and Agro-Environmental (CIAGRO-UMH), GIAAMA Research Group, University Miguel Hernández, Carretera de Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, Spain
María J. López
Unit of Microbiology, Department of Biology and Geology, CITE II-B, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence CeiA3, CIAIMBITAL, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain
Francisca Suarez-Estrella
Unit of Microbiology, Department of Biology and Geology, CITE II-B, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence CeiA3, CIAIMBITAL, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain
Raúl Moral
Center of Research and Innovation in Agri-Food and Agro-Environmental (CIAGRO-UMH), GIAAMA Research Group, University Miguel Hernández, Carretera de Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, Spain
Nowadays, plastic materials are extensively used in the agri-food sector for multiple purposes. The end-of-life management of these plastics is an environmental challenge because frequent incomplete recoveries after the crop seasons lead to the accumulation of plastics debris in agricultural waste, which is now recognized as an emerging environmental issue of global concern. However, the effects of plastic debris in agricultural waste undergoing biotreatment have been poorly studied. This study assesses the effects of agricultural plastic waste (APW) (LDPE + LLDPE and EPS) (1.25% f.w.) on the vermicomposting process (45 days) in terms of earthworm health by measuring biomarker responses and the enzymatic activity and quality/stabilization of the vermicompost obtained. The results showed that exposure to all the plastic materials tested had negative morphological effects on earthworm survival and body biomass. In the vermicomposting process, the changes detected in the enzymatic activity of the vermicompost and the biofilm seemed to affect the degradation rate of earthworms and the microbiome of the substrate, as demonstrated by the low organic matter mineralization in the vermicompost exposed to plastic. Although no significant changes were recorded in several biomarkers, signs of oxidative stress were evidenced throughout the glutathione S-transferase and carboxylesterase activity, mainly involving balanced oxidative stress and xenobiotic resistance systems.
