Tire abrasion particles negatively affect plant growth even at low concentrations and alter soil biogeochemical cycling

Highlights

• Tire abrasion particles reduced aboveground and belowground biomass.

• Soil respiration and soil pH increased with increasing amount of added tire particles.

• Litter decomposition is affected by addition of tire particles.

• Effects are apparent already at the lowest added concentration.

Abstract

Tire particles (TPs) are a major source of microplastic on land, and considering their chemical composition, they represent a potential hazard for the terrestrial environment. We studied the effects of TPs at environmentally relevant concentrations along a wide concentration gradient (0–160 mg g⁻¹) and tested the effects on plant growth, soil pH and the key ecosystem process of litter decomposition and soil respiration. The addition of TPs negatively affected shoot and root growth already at low concentrations. Tea litter decomposition slightly increased with lower additions of TPs but decreased later on. Soil pH increased until a TP concentration of 80 mg g⁻¹ and leveled off afterwards. Soil respiration clearly increased with increasing concentration of added TPs. Plant growth was likely reduced with starting contamination and stopped when contamination reached a certain level in the soil. The presence of TPs altered a number of biogeochemical soil parameters that can have further effects on plant performance. Considering the quantities of yearly produced TPs, their persistence, and toxic potential, we assume that these particles will eventually have a significant impact on terrestrial ecosystems.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Microplastic pollution / Tire particles / Plant growth / Soil respiration / Soil pH / Litter decomposition

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Author contributions

EFL and MCR designed the study. HLK and EFL performed the study. HLK, EF and EFL performed the laboratory work. MR performed the statistical analysis. EFL led the writing of the manuscript and wrote the first draft. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript.

Data availability

‘Tire-particles-in-soil’. Github repository. Data set and R code available at https://github.com/Dr-Eva-F-Leifheit/tire-particles-in-soil.

Acknowledgments

EFL acknowledges funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (LE 3859/1-1). MCR acknowledges support from an ERC Advanced Grant (694368). Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.

Electronic supplementary material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s42832-021-0114-2 and is accessible for authorized users.

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RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2021 The Author(s) 2021. This article is published with open access at link.springer.com and journal.hep.com.cn