Ecological adaptation of earthworms for coping with plant polyphenols, heavy metals, and microplastics in the soil: A review.

ABSTRACT: In recent years, soil pollution by massive accumulation of heavy metals (HMs), microplastics, and refractory hydrocarbon chemicals has become an emerging and global concern, drawing worldwide attention. These pollutants influence soil diversity by hindering the reproduction, abundance, thereby affecting aboveground productivity. The scientific community has recently emphasized the contribution of earthworms to heavy metal accumulation, microplastic degradation, and the decomposition of organic matter in the soil, which helps maintain the soil structure. This review paper aimed to compile scientific facts on how earthworms cope with the effect of HMs, microplastics, and plant polyphenols so that vermiremediation could be widely applied for well-being of the soil ecosystem by environmentalis

SUBMITTER: Gudeta K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10040515 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature