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Microplastic and nanoplastic interactions with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soils: a critical review of main findings and knowledge gaps.
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Microplastics in soil (from things like compost, sewage sludge, and irrigation water) can sometimes team up with "forever chemicals" (PFAS) and carry them further into the environment, but this review of 37 studies found it's not a guaranteed effect, since it depends heavily on the type of plastic, soil conditions, and chemical properties involved. This matters because PFAS and microplastics both end up in the food we grow, but scientists still don't know exactly when or how much plastics make PFAS contamination worse, so more real-world (not just lab) testing is needed before we can say how big a risk this combo poses to our food and health
Microplastics (MPs), nanoplastics (NPs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can enter soils through biosolids, compost, landfill leachate, reclaimed-water irrigation, treated textiles, and industrial releases. However, whether plastic particles modify PFAS fate in terrestrial environments remains uncertain because most evidence derives from simplified laboratory conditions. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework and identified 430 records from Scopus (n = 208) and Web of Science (n = 222). After screening, environmental-domain classification, and critical reassessment, 37 original studies were included in a two-level evidence framework comprising eight core soil or soil-relevant studies and 29 complementary mechanistic studies. PFAS-MP/NP interactions depended on polymer composition, particle size and charge, PFAS chain length and functional group, solution chemistry, weathering, organic matter, mineral coatings, and biofilms. Although pristine plastics often showed substantial PFAS adsorption in aqueous systems, their affinity frequently changed after contact with soils or other environmental matrices. Transport studies did not support a universal carrier effect. Plastic particles facilitated PFAS movement under some conditions, retarded it when particle retention dominated, and had little effect when most PFAS remained dissolved. Biological responses were also context-dependent. MPs increased PFAS bioaccumulation and reproductive toxicity in earthworms, while plant and aquatic studies showed both enhanced and reduced uptake or toxicity depending on particle properties and exposure conditions. Overall, the PFAS vector effect of MPs and NPs is conditional rather than universal. Field monitoring, intact-soil experiments, environmentally conditioned particles, realistic concentrations, complete mass balances, and long-term assessments are needed to determine when plastic-mediated processes become environmentally significant.
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From laboratory to the field: the role of microplastics as vectors of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment
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Tiny plastic particles (microplastics) can act like tiny taxis for "forever chemicals" (PFAS), picking them up and carrying them through water, soil, and potentially into our bodies, according to this review of existing studies. Lab tests show plastics can soak up a lot of these chemicals, but real-world conditions—like natural buildup of grime on plastic surfaces—make this pickup less predictable, meaning the actual risk to humans and ecosystems is still hard to pin down. The takeaway: these two pollutants may be teaming up in ways that make each other more persistent and harder to clean up, which is why sc
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Researchers investigated whether microplastics in biosolids could enhance the mobility and persistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in soil, finding that microplastics may act as co-carriers that amplify PFAS contamination risks. The study highlights an understudied interaction between two major emerging contaminants.
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This study found that polyamide microplastics in soil significantly affect how PFAS (including PFOA and GenX) are adsorbed and retained, with the microplastic-soil mixture behaving differently from either material alone. Since both microplastics and PFAS are widespread soil contaminants, their co-occurrence could change the mobility and bioavailability of these toxic 'forever chemicals,' complicating risk assessments.
Microplastics as carriers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aquatic environment: interactions and ecotoxicological effects
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics serve as carriers for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), sometimes called forever chemicals, in aquatic environments. The study found that PFAS can attach to microplastic surfaces and accumulate in organisms through the food chain, potentially amplifying the toxic effects of both pollutants. The findings suggest that the combined presence of microplastics and PFAS poses a greater environmental and health risk than either pollutant alone.
Microplastics Interactions with PFAS and Co-transport in the Soil
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This chapter reviewed the interactions between microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil, examining how these two persistent pollutants interact and co-transport through soil profiles. Their combined presence can amplify environmental risks by facilitating PFAS mobility and bioavailability beyond what either contaminant achieves independently.
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