Biodegradation of microplastics by Armadillidium vulgare and microbial isolates from an aged landfill

Microplastic contamination in terrestrial ecosystems has emerged as a growing environmental concern, particularly as soils act as long‑term sinks for persistent plastic particles. Conventional remediation methods remain limited, prompting interest in biological strategies that harness naturally occurring organisms and microbial communities. This study explores the synergistic potential of using Armadillidium vulgare (pill bugs) and bacteria isolated from an old landfill site to degrade microplastics, specifically polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Armadillidium vulgare, known for its ability to ingest and fragment organic matter and concrete, was hypothesized to undergo a similar process with microplastics and applied to artificially microplastic-contaminated soil in the laboratory in a controlled chamber for 3 weeks. Experimental results demonstrated that Armadillidium vulgare could ingest microplastics, leading to their fragmentation and potential biodegradation. Both polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) showed a reduction after 3 weeks of bioremediation, measured by Pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). Findings suggest that both Armadillidium vulgare and microbes could serve as a viable, eco-friendly solution for mitigating microplastic pollution in soil. However, the soil with Armadillidium vulgare and microbes showed a higher reduction (around 30%) than Armadillidium vulgare only (16%) for both PE- and PP-contaminated soil.