We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics and Carbon Cycling: Interactions Across Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
This review pulls together existing research on how tiny plastic particles (microplastics) are messing with the natural systems that store and cycle carbon in soil and water. When microplastics disrupt these processes, it can throw off the balance of ecosystems we depend on for clean air, water, and food—which matters for human health even though this paper doesn't directly study people. The bigger takeaway: scientists still need better, standardized ways to measure microplastic pollution so we can understand its real-world impact and figure out how to reduce the risks.
ABSTRACT The widespread use of plastics has led to a significant increase in microplastic contamination across ecosystems. This review integrates current understanding of the origin, characteristics, and ecological consequences of microplastics, focusing on their effect on biogeochemical cycles, especially the carbon cycle. It aims to clarify the complex pathways and mechanisms by which microplastics disrupt the carbon cycle in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, with a primary focus on terrestrial environments. This review emphasizes the varied impacts of microplastics on the physical, chemical, and biological processes within ecosystems. Understanding these interactions is critical for developing efficient strategies to mitigate the environmental and climatic impacts of microplastics. By examining the intricate pathways and mechanisms through which microplastics influence the carbon cycle, this review provides a comprehensive assessment of their environmental consequences and emphasizes the necessity for standardized detection methods to accurately quantify microplastic pollution and evaluate its impacts. Moreover, this article points out the urgent need for further analysis of the long‐duration consequences of microplastics on ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Addressing microplastic contamination is essential for preserving ecosystem stability and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources for future generations.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic effects on carbon cycling processes in soils
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how microplastics affect carbon cycling processes in soils, including their influence on microbial activity, plant growth, and litter decomposition. Since microplastics are themselves carbon-based materials, they can directly alter soil carbon stocks while also indirectly shifting microbial communities. The study calls for a major research effort to understand the widespread effects of microplastics on soil functioning and terrestrial ecosystem health.
Effects of microplastics on soil carbon pool and terrestrial plant performance
AI summary Read the abstract
This review explores how microplastics in soil disrupt the carbon cycle by masquerading as natural soil carbon, changing how organic matter breaks down, and altering the communities of microbes that keep soil healthy. These soil changes could indirectly affect human health by reducing crop nutrition and contaminating food with plastic particles that move from soil into plants.
Tracing the microplastic cycle in ecosystems with sources biological interactions and mitigation strategies
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles called microplastics have worked their way into soil, water, air, plants, animals, and eventually our bodies, and scientists still aren't sure exactly what long-term harm this causes to our health. This review pulls together existing research on how microplastics move through ecosystems and accumulate in living things, while also highlighting promising cleanup methods—but it stresses that more research is urgently needed to fully understand the risks and find better solutions.
Carbon Cycling in Wetlands Under the Shadow of Microplastics: Challenges and Prospects
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how microplastics disrupt carbon cycling in wetlands, which are critical ecosystems for capturing and storing carbon that would otherwise contribute to climate change. Microplastics can damage plant roots, alter soil microbial communities, and accelerate the breakdown of stored organic carbon, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions. The findings highlight that microplastic pollution may undermine wetlands' ability to help regulate the climate.
Microplastics alter soil carbon cycling: Effects on carbon storage, CO 2 and CH 4 emission and microbial community
AI summary Read the abstract
This systematic review examines how microplastics in soil affect carbon cycling, including greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage. The effects depend heavily on plastic type and size, with biodegradable plastics generally having a bigger impact. Understanding these soil-level changes matters because disrupted carbon cycles can worsen climate change, which in turn affects the food and water systems we all depend on.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.