Reassessing Whether Biodegradable Microplastics Are Environmentally Friendly: Differences in Earthworm Physiological Responses and Soil Carbon Function Impacts

Biodegradable plastics are not a primary solution to plastic pollution, and empirical evidence on whether they are environmentally friendly remains lacking. In this study, we systematically compared the toxic effects of traditional microplastics (polypropylene, PP; polystyrene, PS) with biodegradable microplastics (polylactic acid, PLA; polyhydroxyalkanoates, PHA) on the haplic phaeozem ecosystem. Through mathematical modeling analysis, it was found that earthworms initially rely on antioxidant enzymes to resist stress, mid-term activation of detoxifying enzymes to repair damage, and maintaining physiological balance through metabolic regulation and immune enhancement in later stages. We elucidated their mechanism differences: PLA and PP caused severe damage to the antioxidant system and cell membrane, with PLA mainly relying on POD to clear peroxides and PP relying on GST. In addition, PLA and PS can induce early neurotoxicity (AChE), while PHA induces late neurotoxicity. Furthermore, this study provides direct evidence proving that biodegradable microplastics are not environmentally friendly by breaking through the one-way research framework of “microplastic biotoxicity” and innovatively constructing a path analysis model that links biological physiological responses with soil ecological functions. We also provide a scientific basis to evaluate the ecological risks of microplastic pollution in soil and the whether biodegradable plastics are truly environmentally friendly.