Molecular succession and transformation of soil dissolved organic matter under long-term polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate and polyethylene microplastic disturbance

Chemodiversity of soil dissolved organic matter affected by contrasting microplastics from different types of polymers

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A 310-day soil incubation experiment found that polyethylene, polystyrene, and PVC microplastics reduced aromatic and hydrophobic dissolved organic matter (DOM) components by over 20%, decreased DOM humification levels, and shifted microbial communities in ways that altered nitrogen availability. These changes in soil DOM chemistry and microbial structure have downstream implications for soil fertility, greenhouse gas emissions, and the bioavailability of co-contaminants like heavy metals and antibiotics.

Yields and characterization of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter from different polymers under varying leaching conditions

The molecular transformation of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter regulates the bioavailability of conventional microplastic

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Researchers discovered that dissolved organic matter released from biodegrading polyethylene microplastics (MP-DOM) creates a self-inhibitory feedback loop — as aromatic compounds in MP-DOM are broken down by plastisphere bacteria, key PE-degrading microbes decline, significantly slowing further plastic degradation over time.

Characteristics and Molecular Signatures of Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter

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A synthesis of 51 studies found that smaller microplastics, higher temperatures, UV aging, and acidic conditions all increase the amount of dissolved organic matter that microplastics leach into water, with this leaching also acidifying aquatic environments. As microplastics accumulate and weather, the chemicals they release into water may pose additional risks beyond the particles themselves.

Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter: Release Pattern, Chemical Properties, Environmental Risk, and Impact on Carbon Cycling

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This review examines microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter (MPs-DOM), which plastic debris releases at an estimated 23,600 tons annually into surface waters, covering its chemical properties, release patterns, and interactions with metals, microorganisms, and the carbon cycle. MPs-DOM represents a largely overlooked secondary pollution pathway through which microplastics extend their environmental impact well beyond the particles themselves.