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Microplastic-Mediated Contaminant Mobilization and Biosystem Responses in Agricultural Soils
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This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic bits in farm soil don't just sit there. They can harm helpful soil organisms, disrupt plant growth, and act like magnets for heavy metals, harmful chemicals, and germs. Since our food grows in that soil, this raises real questions about what's ending up on our plates, though better testing methods and rules are still needed to fully understand the risks.
Microplastics are particles which are smaller than < 5 mm in size and have emerged as widespread pollutants in terrestrial ecosystems, especially agricultural soils. While their presence in aquatic environments has received considerable attention, their ecological impacts on soil remain underexplored. This review critically examines the sources, transport pathways, and consequences of microplastic contamination in soils. Key entry points include sewage sludge, plastic mulches, contaminated irrigation, atmospheric deposition, and urban runoff. Once introduced, microplastics alter soil structure, porosity, water retention, and redox dynamics. They disrupt microbial community composition, suppress enzyme activities, and interfere with symbiotic root associations. Soil fauna, including earthworms and nematodes, suffer physiological stress and reproductive decline upon ingesting microplastics. Additionally, these particles serve as carriers of heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and pathogenic microbes, intensifying ecological toxicity. Emerging studies reveal nanoplastics may be taken up by plant roots, posing potential food chain risks. However, current detection techniques remain limited, and standardized methodologies are lacking. Regulatory policies addressing microplastic pollution in soil are also insufficient. Beyond summarizing current evidence, this review integrates the mechanistic links between microplastic transport, soil physicochemical alteration, microbial community restructuring, soil fauna responses, plant interactions, and contaminant mobilization within agricultural soils. Particular attention is given to the role of microplastics as vectors for heavy metals, organic contaminants, pathogenic microorganisms, and antibiotic resistance determinants, together with the emerging ecological significance of the soil plastisphere. The review further identifies critical research priorities, including standardized analytical protocols, long-term field validation, and mechanistic studies needed to improve soil-specific ecological risk assessment and mitigation strategies. .
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Tiny plastic bits are building up in farm soil from sources like plastic mulch, sewage-based fertilizers, and irrigation water, and this review of existing research shows they can mess with soil's ability to hold water and nutrients while also acting as hitchhikers for heavy metals, pesticides, and harmful germs. Since this soil grows our food, contaminated farmland could mean these pollutants—and the microplastics themselves—end up on our plates. The good news: solutions like biodegradable farm materials, natural soil additives, and better monitoring could help curb the problem if adopted widely.
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Tiny plastic bits from mulch films, sewage-based fertilizers, and contaminated irrigation water are building up in farm soils—and this review of existing research confirms they don't just stay in the dirt. These plastics can actually move into the edible parts of crops, harm soil health and plant growth along the way, and create a direct route for plastic to end up on your plate. The researchers call for better plastic alternatives, stronger waste management, and more study to fully understand what this means for human health long-term.
Impact of microplastics in agriculture
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This review paper pulls together existing research on how tiny plastic particles (microplastics) end up in farm soil — often through fertilizers, irrigation water, and plastic mulches used to grow crops. These plastics can harm soil health, disrupt nutrients, and affect the small creatures that keep soil fertile, which may ultimately impact the crops and livestock that end up on our plates. The findings matter because they suggest microplastics could be quietly working their way into our food supply, though more research is needed to understand exactly how this affects human health.
Microplastics in the agricultural soils: Pollution behavior and subsequent effects
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This review summarizes existing research on how microplastics accumulate in farmland through fertilizers, irrigation, plastic mulch, and atmospheric fallout. Microplastics change soil structure, harm beneficial microbes, and can be taken up by crops, moving through the food chain to humans. The authors emphasize that more research is needed to understand the long-term health risks of eating food grown in microplastic-contaminated soil.
Microplastics in agricultural soils: sources, soil–plant interactions, ecotoxicological effects and food security concerns
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This review pulls together existing research on how tiny plastic bits get into farm soil, through mulch, wastewater, and even air, and shows they can harm soil health and be absorbed by crops. Since plants can carry these particles into the parts we eat, this raises real questions about microplastics entering our food supply and affecting human health, though more long-term studies are needed to know the full impact.
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