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Soil health responses to microplastic contamination in agroecosystems: A comprehensive review
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This review pulls together existing research showing that farm soils actually contain far more microplastics than oceans do, and these tiny plastic bits harm soil quality by disrupting helpful bacteria, hurting earthworms, and reducing nutrients crops need. Microplastics can also carry toxic chemicals and metals into the food we eat, making this a hidden risk to both food supply and human health that needs more attention.
The contamination of terrestrial ecosystems, particularly agricultural soils by microplastics has emerged as a significant concern for soil health and sustainable agricultural production. Recent estimates indicate that microplastic concentrations in terrestrial habitats may be 4–23 times higher than those reported in aquatic environments, emphasising the importance of understanding their impacts on soil ecosystems. Microplastic smaller than 5mm affects the physical characteristics of the soil, which negatively impacts the capability of the soil to supply nutrients to plants, which in turn affects the productivity of crops. The presence of plastics alters microbial composition and productivity, affecting nutrient turnover and the breakdown of organic matter. It has been shown in laboratory tests that there was a decrease in nitrogen-fixing bacteria and the total microbial density in soil samples containing microplastics. Furthermore, these pollutants affect the lives of some fauna in the soil, like earthworms, by inhibiting their growth. The other factor contributing to the severity of soil pollution risks is the nature of microplastics to adsorb and transport hazardous compounds such as organic contaminants and toxic metals, which are present in the food web and have profound impacts on both human well-being and the biosphere. More effort and a prompt response are necessary to accurately estimate the extent of microplastics and their persistent effects on soil health, remediate the problems associated with plastic use in the agricultural sector and effectively control plastic use in agriculture. This review critically synthesises current knowledge on the sources of microplastics and their effects on soil physical, chemical and biological health indicators while highlighting key research gaps relevant to sustainable agricultural management.
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This review examines the impacts of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils, covering sources from plastic mulch and irrigation, effects on soil structure, water retention, microbial diversity, and nutrient cycling, and consequences for crop health and food safety.
Microplastics in Agricultural Soils: An Emerging Threat to Soil Health, Microbial Ecology, Crop Productivity, and Food Safety
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This review examines how microplastics accumulate in agricultural soils from sources like plastic mulch, sewage sludge, and atmospheric deposition. Researchers found that these particles can disrupt soil microbial communities, harm plant health, and potentially enter the human food chain. The study highlights the urgent need for mitigation strategies to address this growing but often overlooked form of pollution in farmland.
How microplastics are destroying soil and human health
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This review examined how microplastics harm soil health — disrupting soil structure, water retention, microbial communities, and nutrient cycling — and how soil degradation translates into risks for human health through food and water contamination. It argues that soil microplastic pollution deserves equivalent attention to aquatic contamination.
Unveiling the impacts of microplastic pollution on soil health: A comprehensive review
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This review summarizes research from 2021-2024 on how microplastics in agricultural soil harm crop growth, reduce soil organism survival and reproduction, disrupt microbial communities, and alter nutrient cycling. These soil health impacts are relevant to human health because they can compromise food safety and allow microplastics to enter the food supply through contaminated crops.
Invisible threats in soil: Microplastic pollutionand its effects on soil health and plant growth
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This review summarizes current knowledge about microplastic contamination in agricultural soil, covering where the plastics come from, how they move through soil, and what they do to soil health and plant growth. Microplastics can alter soil structure, disrupt microbial communities, and interfere with nutrient cycles that plants need to grow. The findings raise concerns that widespread microplastic pollution in farmland could quietly reduce crop quality and productivity, ultimately affecting the food supply.
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