Dataset of nanoplastic transport in soil via bioturbation by Lumbricus terrestris

The dataset comprises data acquired in laboratory-based process-studies
with microcosms on the transport of nanoplastics (polystyrene, 256 nm
diameter) in an agricultural soil via bioturbation over the course of 4
weeks. Transport of nanoplastics was monitored through the use of
palladium (Pd)-doped nanoplastics (0.24 % w/w) by analyzing soil samples
at specific depths (0-2 cm, 2-6 cm, 6-15 cm, 15-29 cm) after defined
experimental times (7, 14, 21, 28 days). Microcosms consisted of
30 cm height, 10 cm diameter soil columns which were set up with or
without earthworms and with or without nanoplastics spiked to the
uppermost 2 cm. Two experimental runs were executed with the first (Exp1)
designed to focus on the average transport within the soil profile over
time, and the second (Exp2) focussing on the smaller scale distribution of
the nanoplastics in the soil (i.e. soil matrix versus drilosphere) while
monitoring earthworm burrow development over time using X-ray computed
tomography. In the first experiment, earthworms were measured for their
nanoplastic content after the experiment. The dataset made available here
comprises the details of the microcosm setup for Exp1 and Exp2, details on
detected nanoplastic concentrations for the average soil profile
(Exp1), drilosphere and soil matrix (Exp2), as well as detected
concentrations in earthworm tissue and monitoring of earthworm weight
(Exp1). A selection of X-ray CT images is also provided, chosen based on
the considered highest relevance. X-ray CT scans of other measurement
timepoints are available upon request.