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Impact of Microplastics on Soil's Biodiversity and Public Health
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This book chapter examines how microplastic contamination of soil affects biodiversity—including soil microbes, invertebrates, and plants—and discusses the broader public health implications of agricultural soil pollution and potential pathways of human exposure through food.
Microplastics (MP) are particles smaller than 5 μm, arising from the physical, chemical, or biological degradation of chemically diverse synthetic polymers. Because they are versatile and low-cost, plastic materials are used in all sectors of the economy, which is why global production and the negative impacts caused by waste have increased. The accumulation of MP in water, atmosphere, and soil worries scientists, as it has the potential to contaminate plants, animals, food, and humans. Soils are important sinks of MP, which is why studies on the impacts of these residues on biodiversity and the performance of environmental functions performed by soils are very important. In this chapter, we carry out a review on the subject, discussing especially the sources of MP in soils and risks to biodiversity and human health.
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Impact of Microplastics on Soil's Biodiversity and Public Health
AI summary Read the abstract
This book chapter reviews the impacts of microplastic pollution on soil biodiversity and public health, examining how plastic particles disrupt soil microbial communities, affect soil-dwelling invertebrates, and enter the human food chain through contaminated crops.
Exploring the Impact of Micro-plastics on Soil Health and Ecosystem Dynamics: A Comprehensive Review
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This review examines how microplastics affect soil health, finding that they alter soil structure, water retention, and the organisms that live in soil. Microplastics can carry toxic substances into soil and interact with other pollutants to amplify harmful effects on earthworms and soil microbes. Since healthy soil is essential for growing safe food, microplastic contamination of agricultural land could have long-term consequences for the food supply and human health.
The extent and impacts of soil pollution by microplastics
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This study examines the extent and impacts of soil pollution by microplastics, reviewing evidence of how microplastic particles accumulate in terrestrial environments and affect soil ecosystems, organisms, and agricultural systems.
Microplastic: Evaluating the Impact on Soil-Microbes and Plant System
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This review examines how microplastics affect soil microbial communities and plant systems in agricultural settings, documenting impacts on soil health, microbial diversity, and crop physiology. As microplastics accumulate in farmland soils through irrigation, sludge application, and plastic mulches, their effects on the soil ecosystem that underpins food production are a growing concern.
Effects of microplastics on soil physical, chemical and biological properties
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This review examines how microplastics affect soil health, covering their impact on the physical structure, chemical composition, and biological communities of soil ecosystems. Microplastics can alter soil water retention, change nutrient cycling, and harm soil organisms from earthworms to microbes. Since agricultural soils are a major reservoir of microplastics, these changes could affect crop growth and food quality, creating an indirect pathway for microplastic-related harm to human health.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.