Long-term toxic effects of iron-based metal-organic framework nanopesticides on earthworm-soil microorganism interactions in the soil environment

Abstract

With the widespread use of controlled-release nanopesticides in field conditions, the interactions between these nanopesticides and biological systems are complex and highly uncertain. The toxicity of iron-based metal organic frameworks (CF@MIL-101-SL) loaded with chlorfenapyr (CF) to terrestrial invertebrate earthworms in filter paper and soil environments and the potential mechanisms of interactions in the nanopesticide-earthworm-cornfield soil microorganism system were investigated for the first time. The results showed that CF@MIL-101-SL was more poisonous to earthworms in the contact filter paper test than suspension concentrate of CF (CF-SC), and conversely, CF@MIL-101-SL was less poisonous to earthworms in the soil test. In the soil environment, the CF@MIL-101-SL treatment reduced oxidative stress and the inhibition of detoxifying enzymes, and reduced tissue and cellular substructural damage in earthworms compared to the CF-SC treatment. Long-term treatment with CF@MIL-101-SL altered the composition and abundance of microbial communities with degradative functions in the earthworm intestine and soil and affected the soil nitrogen cycle by modulating the composition and abundance of nitrifying and denitrifying bacterial communities in the earthworm intestine and soil, confirming that soil microorganisms play an important role in reducing the toxicity of CF@MIL-101-SL to earthworms. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the ecological risks of nanopesticides to soil organisms.