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Interactions of Microplastics with Microbial Communities and the Food Web/Plants
Summary
This review examines how microplastics interact with soil and water microorganisms and move through food webs and plant systems. Microplastics can disrupt microbial communities that are essential for soil health and nutrient cycling, while also being absorbed by plants and passed along to animals that eat them. These disruptions in natural systems matter for human health because they can affect food safety and the productivity of agricultural ecosystems.
Microplastics (MPs) have gained recognition as emerging contaminants owing to the escalating reports of their environmental occurrence and the consequential toxicological ramifications. The diverse array of MPs and their complicated interactions within microbial communities and food webs/plant ecosystems have raised substantial alarms. The MPs are readily absorbed by organisms within the biota due to their small size, subsequently leading to various adverse effects, including hormone disruption, tissue damage, and the onset of immunological, neurological, and respiratory disorders in the consumers within the affected food web. In impacted environments, MPs release toxic additives and function as vectors and scaffolds for microbial colonization and transportation, leading to imbalances in microbiota and the biogeochemical and nutrient dynamics. The MPs also adversely affect photosynthetic organisms, inhibiting growth and disrupting photosynthesis. Addressing these concerns necessitates comprehensively reassessing potential sources of MPs' intrusion into agroecosystems, focusing on preventive measures. This chapter explores the intricate pathways of MP accumulation and transmission within microbial communities, food webs, and plant ecosystems. It considers factors influencing the severity of stress experienced by microorganisms and plants and offers strategies to enhance food quality and quantity. The chapter scrutinizes the impact of MPs on microorganisms, soil health, animal life, and plant vitality, with attention to combined effects when coexisting with pollutants like organic contaminants and heavy metals. Furthermore, it evaluates the potential risks of MPs to human health within these ecosystems. Finally, this chapter provides a comprehensive understanding of the pervasive influence of MPs, along with strategies for prevention and control. It identifies knowledge gaps and offers directions for future research, enhancing our grasp of MPs as emerging contaminants and furnishing a crucial theoretical foundation for assessing their ecological and environmental risks.