Microplastics alter CO2 emissions in the soils of the water fluctuation belt of the Three Gorges Reservoir in China

Impacts of microplastics on terrestrial soil carbon dynamics

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This synthesis shows that microplastics disrupt soil organic carbon sequestration through multiple mechanisms, including leaching dissolved organic matter, altering microbial carbon pump efficiency, and creating hotspots that modify mineral-organic matter interactions within soil aggregates. As microplastics accumulate in agricultural soils globally, their interference with carbon storage could undermine both climate mitigation efforts and the soil ecosystem services that support food production.

Effects of different microplastics on greenhouse gas emissions from paddy soil

Effect of microplastics on CO2 emission from Yellow River Delta wetland

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Researchers found that microplastic contamination in Yellow River Delta wetland soils altered CO2 emissions, with different polymer types and concentrations producing varying effects on soil carbon dynamics — raising concern that plastic pollution could undermine the carbon sequestration function of coastal wetlands.

Contrasting effects of microplastics on N2O emission and denitrifiers in two agricultural soils

Unveiling the effects of two distinct microplastics on the sediment microbial community and greenhouse gas emissions: a case study of the Nu River

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A study of the Nu River found that both conventional PVC and biodegradable PLA microplastics altered sediment microbial communities and disrupted greenhouse gas cycling, with PVC more severely reducing bacterial diversity and both types suppressing methane production. The finding that so-called biodegradable plastics still meaningfully disrupt river ecosystems challenges assumptions about their environmental safety.