Is the Polylactic Acid Fiber in Green Compost a Risk for and ?

Polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic was introduced to the market as an environmentally friendly potential solution for plastic pollution. However, the effects of bioplastic debris mixed with composts on soil macroinvertebrates, plant growth and soil conditions are still unknown. Soil macroinvertebrates are soil health indicators.

The first evidence of accumulation and avoidance behavior of macroinvertebrates in a forest soil spiked with human-made iron nanoparticles: A field experiment.

Both earthworms and terrestrial isopods have been used to evaluate the quality of contaminated soil by NPs. However, most experiments have been conducted in the laboratory and under greenhouse conditions. Besides, little is known of Fe accumulation in earthworms from iron NPs (Fe NPs) under natural conditions.

Field evidence for transfer of plastic debris along a terrestrial food chain.

Although plastic pollution happens globally, the micro- (<5 mm) and macroplastic (5-150 mm) transfer of plastic to terrestrial species relevant to human consumption has not been examined. We provide first-time evidence for micro- and macroplastic transfer from soil to chickens in traditional Mayan home gardens in Southeast Mexico where waste mismanagement is common. We assessed micro- and macroplastic in soil, earthworm casts, chicken feces, crops and gizzards (used for human consumption).

Succession of fungi colonizing porous and compact limestone exposed to subtropical environments.

Little is known about the dynamics of succession of fungi on limestone exposed in subtropical environments. In this study, the colonization of experimental blocks of compact and porous limestone by a fungal community derived from natural biofilms occurring on Structure X from the archaeological site of Becán (México), was studied using a cultivation-dependent approach after short-term (9 m) exposure in order to provide a preliminary insight of the colonization process under seminatural conditions. Microbial growth seen as the change of colour of stone surfaces to black/dark green was more abundant on the porous limestone.