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Effects of microplastics on soil environment and land plant growth: a review
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This review examines how microplastics affect soil quality and plant growth through both direct toxicity and indirect changes to soil properties. Researchers found that microplastics can accumulate in plant tissues after entering the soil and may transfer through the food chain. The study highlights that soil microplastic contamination is a growing ecological concern that remains understudied compared to marine environments.
Microplastics represent an emerging category of long-lasting environmental contaminants that exhibit detrimental impacts not only on marine ecosystems but also demonstrate extensive distribution within terrestrial environments. Currently, soil contamination by microplastics has become a pressing ecological issue, yet scientific investigations focusing on phytological systems remain comparatively limited when contrasted with environmental studies of soil matrices. These synthetic particulates exert dual-phase influences on vegetation development through both direct phytotoxic impacts and indirect mediation via modifying soil physicochemical characteristics. Following their translocation into terrestrial systems and progressive bioaccumulation within plant tissues, microplastics may undergo trophic transfer through food chains, ultimately posing potential health risks to human populations. This review systematically examines contemporary research progress regarding microplastic interactions with pedospheric environments, botanical organisms, and co-existing contaminants, with particular emphasis on their ecological implications for soil functionality and vascular plant physiology. Prospective research directions are outlined to establish theoretical foundations for subsequent investigations concerning microplastic biogeochemical cycles and their ecotoxicological consequences in terrestrial ecosystems.
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Recent advances on ecological effects of microplastics on soil environment
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This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the ecological effects of microplastics on soil environments. Researchers found that soils serve as major sinks for microplastics, which can alter soil properties, affect plant growth, disrupt soil microbial communities, and interact with other pollutants. The study highlights that terrestrial microplastic pollution may be even more pervasive than aquatic contamination and warrants greater research attention.
Impacts of microplastics on terrestrial plants: A critical review
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This review examines how microplastics affect land-based plants, finding that they can alter soil structure, disrupt beneficial soil microbes, and reduce plant growth. Microplastics also carry toxic chemicals like plasticizers and heavy metals that can be taken up by plant roots and enter the food chain. The findings raise concerns about human health since contaminated crops could be a hidden source of microplastic and chemical exposure in our diets.
Effects of microplastics on the terrestrial environment: A critical review
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This review summarizes what is known about microplastic contamination in land-based environments, covering sources, fate, and effects on soil and the organisms that depend on it. Microplastics in soil can interact with pesticides, heavy metals, and other pollutants, acting as carriers that move toxins through the food web and potentially up to humans. The authors note that compared to ocean research, the effects of microplastics on land ecosystems are much less studied and urgently need more attention.
Impact of microplastics on terrestrial ecosystems: A plant-centric perspective
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This review focuses on how microplastics affect plants and soil health in agricultural settings, an area that has received less attention than marine microplastic pollution. The researchers describe how microplastics can alter soil structure, disrupt microbial communities, and enter plant tissues through unique transport mechanisms. The study highlights that agricultural soils are a major sink for microplastics, with potential consequences for food safety and crop productivity.
Origin and Effects of Microplastics on Soil Health, Microbial Community and Plants
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This review covers the origins, migration pathways, and ecological effects of microplastics in soil ecosystems, synthesizing research on impacts to soil health, microbial communities, plant growth, and trophic transfer through food chains. The authors highlight the relatively limited understanding of soil microplastic ecology compared to aquatic environments.
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