Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41745801›Full record

ArticleToxics2026

Size- and Time-Dependent Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics on Soil Nematode Communities: A 360-Day Field Experiment.

Tianyao He, Shiyu Zhu, Xiankun Liu, Jie Chen, Liping He, Kehong Wang, Yihua Zhu, Hongzhi Xu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Toxics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Tianyao HeCollege of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing 404100, China.ORCID 0009-0007-7122-0034
Shiyu ZhuCollege of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing 404100, China.
Xiankun LiuCollege of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing 404100, China.
Jie ChenCollege of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 833300, China.
Liping HeCollege of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing 404100, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9438-6175
Kehong WangCollege of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing 404100, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9592-1221
Yihua ZhuCollege of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing 404100, China.ORCID 0009-0005-9495-0190
Hongzhi XuCollege of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing 404100, China.

Funding

Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing, China cstc2021jcyj-msxmX0439Project of Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Education Commission of China KJQN202101241; KJQN202301239
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Soil ecosystems are seriously contaminated by microplastics of varying particle sizes, yet the ecological consequences across a broader size spectrum remain poorly understood. We conducted a 360-day field experiment to examine the effects of seven microplastic size fractions (ranging from 6.5 μm to 1000 μm) on the composition, trophic structure, temporal dynamics, complexity, and stability of soil nematode communities. Results showed that microplastics altered nematode community composition and structure, with impacts clearly dependent on both particle size and exposure time. Microplastics generally reduced the abundance, complexity, and stability of nematode communities, except for the 25 μm and 500 μm particles. Temporal analysis revealed an initial increase in nematode abundance, followed by a long-term decline across most treatments. Structural equation modeling indicated that microplastics regulated nematode diversity and stability through pathways that varied with particle size. We recommend that the environmental risk assessments for soil microplastics incorporate testing across a broad size spectrum and over extended timescales to capture their complex and dynamic impacts.

Indexed as

complexity and stabilitymicroplastic particle sizepolyethylenesoil nematode diversitytemporal dynamics

Identifiers

PMID41745801
PMCPMC12944334

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.