A discussion on the removal of microplastics from the atmosphere through phytoremediation. Are there any effects on soil from airborne pollutants?

Microplastics (MPs) in the atmosphere represent an emerging environmental concern with implications that extend beyond air pollution (Biswas et al., 2025). Their interactions with soils, mediated by plant processes, remain poorly understood, highlighting a critical knowledge gap (Li et al. 2025). Addressing these interactions is essential for soil health (Golia et al., 2024) and exploring the potential of phytoremediation as a strategy for mitigating environmental pollution (Sharma et al., 2025).Air pollutants arise from both natural and human-made sources and have the capacity to bio-magnify and bio-accumulate across trophic levels, thereby enhancing toxicity within the food chain (Lee et al., 2020). A range of air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), inorganic air pollutants (IAP), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, and black carbon, have been shown to have detrimental effects on both environmental and human health following extended exposure (Lee et al., 2020). MPs are currently recognized as pollutants and particulates in the atmosphere. Recent research has shown the presence of MPs in urban, rural, and remote atmospheric environments, as well as in atmospheric deposition. As a pollutant in the atmosphere, MPs have considerable potential for long-distance transport [as occurs in the oceans (Tziourrou, 2021)], which can consequently affect areas that are distant from the sources of MPs pollution (Zhang et al., 2020). According to recent study conducted by Tatsii et al. (2024), it has been demonstrated that MPs can be carried through the atmosphere to nearly any location on Earth. They are found throughout the troposphere and potentially in the stratosphere, taking into account both low and high efficiencies of in-cloud scavenging.According to Zhang et al. (2020), MPs have been identified in the atmosphere of urban, suburban, and even distant regions far removed from the source areas of MPs, indicating the possibility of long-distance atmospheric transport of these particles. MPs are present in the atmosphere from urban to remote locations, with their abundance and deposition varying by 1 to 3 orders of magnitude across different sites. Fibers and fragments are the most commonly reported forms and types of plastic, which generally correspond with global plastic demand (Zhang et al., 2020).Microplastics in the atmosphere can originate from various sources, including the sea surface. According to Gaylarde et al. (2025), the intricate interplay between MPs present in the atmosphere and on the surface of the Earth is influenced by both natural and human-induced factors. MPs are carried from the ocean to the atmosphere through processes such as bubble scavenging and the formation of sea spray, while land-based sources contribute to their release through air currents and human activities (Hurb et al., 2023). It has been estimated that as much as 8.6 megatons of MPs are suspended in the air above the oceans each year (Gaylarde et al., 2025). These particles are disseminated by wind, water, and fomites, eventually returning to the Earth's surface through rainfall and passive deposition; however, they can also escape into the stratosphere, where they may persist for several months (Gaylarde et al., 2025).Despite these secondary aspects, this is connected to human-made aerosols, including paints, agrochemicals, personal care and cosmetic products, as well as domestic and industrial activities (such as air conditioning, vacuuming, washing, waste disposal, and the production of plastic-containing items), contribute directly to the airborne load of MPs, which is found to be greater in indoor environments compared to outdoor air (Gaylarde et al., 2025).The deposition of MPs in isolated areas has been documented to vary between 50 and 700 MPs per square meter daily (Gaylarde et al., 2025). The concentrations of MPs in outdoor air fluctuated between less than 1 and over 1000 MPs per cubic meter, while deposition rates ranged from 0.5 to 1357 MPs per square meter per day (O'Brien et al., 2023). Dust concentrations exhibited a variation from 2 to 477 MPs per gram in road dust, and from 18 to 225 MPs per gram in outdoor dust. In indoor environments, air concentrations varied from less than 1 MP per cubic meter to a mean of 1583 ± 1181 MPs per cubic meter (O'Brien et al., 2023). The dustfall indoors contained between 475 and 19,600 MPs per square meter per day, and indoor dust ranged from 10 to 67,000 MPs per gram (O'Brien et al., 2023). The composition of these MPs was as follows:Air: PET, PE, PP; Deposition: PET, PE, PP; Road dust: PE, PVC, PP; Outdoor dust: PET, PP, PA; Indoor dust: PET, PE, PP (O'Brien et al., 2023). Particles of various types, ranging from 100 to 1000 nm in size, are recognized to be transported over considerable distances in the atmosphere, occasionally spanning an entire hemisphere 6 . As referred to by Tatsii et al. (2024), numerous studies have demonstrated that even particles exceeding 75 μm in diameter can remain suspended in the air for prolonged durations and be deposited thousands of kilometers from their origin. This phenomenon is also relevant to MPs, which are frequently discovered in isolated areas of the globe (Tatsii et al., 2024).These aspects indirectly link phytoremediation and soil processes to broader environmental phenomena, such as climate change. Atmospheric aerosols, including mineral dust and various forms of airborne particulate matter, affect the climate of Earth by absorbing and scattering radiation, which is referred to as direct radiative effects.These effects are typically measured using the effective radiative forcing (ERF) metric (Myhre et al., 2013). Nevertheless, the radiative impacts of airborne MPs and their potential consequences for global climate remain largely unexamined. The ERF for airborne MPs has been calculated to be 0.044 ± 0.399 milliwatts per square metre in the current atmosphere, based on an assumed uniform surface concentration of 1 MP particle per cubic metre and a vertical distribution extending up to 10 kilometres in altitude. However, significant uncertainties exist regarding the geographical and vertical distribution of MPs. If it is assumed that they are limited to the boundary layer, shortwave effects prevail, resulting in a MP ERF of approximately -0.746 ± 0.553 milliwatts per square metre (Revell et al., 2021). In comparison to the total ERF attributed to aerosol-radiation interactions, which ranges from -0.71 to -0.14 watts per square metre, the MP ERF is relatively minor (Bellouin et al., 2020). Nonetheless, plastic production has surged dramatically over the last 70 years (Geyer et al., 2017); without significant efforts to reform plastic production and waste management practices, the prevalence and ERF of airborne MPs are likely to rise.Although our main focus is on the soil, the impacts on human health indirectly highlight the importance of managing microplastics in soil. Individuals may be exposed to MPs via oral consumption, inhalation, and dermal contact (Li et al., 2023). The consequences include oxidative stress, DNA damage, organ dysfunction, metabolic disorders, immune responses, neurotoxicity, as well as reproductive and developmental toxicity (Li et al., 2023). These particles can infiltrate the human body through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact, leading to various health risks such as cellular injury, hormonal disruption, and cardiovascular diseases (Lalrinfela et al., 2024). MPs and nanoplastics (NPs) enter the human system through the consumption of seafood and sea salt, drinking water (Lalrinfela et al., 2024), and the inhalation of airborne MPs released from urban dust, synthetic clothing, and the erosion of rubber tires, among other sources (Prata, 2018). Although airborne MPs represent a relatively new area of research, numerous observational studies have documented the inhalation of plastic fibers and particles, particularly among exposed workers, frequently accompanied by dyspnea resulting from airway and interstitial inflammatory responses (Prata, 2018).Inhalable plastic particles are associated with an increased incidence of cancer, and exposure in rats leads to granulomatous lesions with slow clearance after 12 weeks (Prata, 2018). Secondary sources of MPs include synthetic fabric fibers, dust from synthetic rubber tires, paint particles, and the degradation of larger plastics that become brittle due to UV radiation exposure (Evangeliou et al., 2020;Rochman, 2018); When inhaled from ambient air, MPs and NPs may pose significant threats to human health (Goodman et al., 2021).Understanding the impacts of microplastics on human health also highlights the significant role of phytoremediation in mitigating these pollutants. Phytoremediation plays a significant role in controlling air pollution as a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly method for addressing air pollutants (Lee et al., 2020). In the process of phytoremediation, plant organs and the associated microbes in both the phyllosphere and rhizosphere interact to mitigate air pollutants (Figure 1). The phytoremediation of air pollutants utilizes the rhizosphere of plants, as pollutants can accumulate in the soil during leaf drop and rainfall (Lee et al., 2020). The deposition of MPs/NPs on the above-ground parts of plants may be a potential mechanism for the phytostabilization of airborne MPs/NPs. Plant leaves are essential in combating air pollution, as they can absorb pollutants from the air, acting as a sink for these contaminants due to their extensive and irregular surfaces (Gong et al., 2023).Certain submerged aquatic vegetation has the capacity to uptake and accumulate MPs through electrostatic interactions, leading to the formation of biofilms on their leaves (Kalčíková et al., 2017) and within their cell walls (Zhang et al., 2022). The leaf uptake of MPs by terrestrial plants is increasingly alarming, as atmospheric deposition introduces over 280 particles per square meter of MPs into the environment each day (Dris et al., 2015). Under sunlight exposure, the stomata of terrestrial plant leaves open to approximately 25 μm in length and 3 -10 μm in width, facilitating the entry of small MPs into the leaves (Lv et al., 2019).Different plant types may vary in their efficiency to capture airborne MPs. For instance, the chemical landscape of leaf surfaces (Ossola and Farmer, 2024) and leaf surface area-such as differences between broadleaf trees and conifers-as well as surface roughness, may influence capture effectiveness. Broadleaf trees may be more effective due to their larger leaf surface area and rougher leaf surfaces, whereas shrubs and herbs likely have lower capture potential. However, systematic comparative studies across plant types are still limited. Therefore, this represents an important avenue for future research to better understand the role of vegetation in mitigating airborne MP pollution.Another important point is that roots do not simply absorb nutrients from the soil; they also exudate organic compounds that shape soil chemistry and microbial communities (Upadhyay et al., 2022;Canarini et al., 2019;Badri and Vivanco, 2009;Bais et al., 2006;Walker et al., 2003;Dakora and Phillips, 2002). This 'dual action' of roots underscores that plants are not passive recipients, but active modulators of their soil environment. This raises a critical question: can airborne pollutants influence the soil through these root exudates? Nonetheless, the effectiveness of phytoremediation in removing pollutants requires validation and verification (Lee et al., 2020). The use of plants for the remediation of air contaminants is influenced by several key factors: (a) the tolerance levels of plants to various pollutants, (b) environmental conditions such as wind, precipitation, temperature, pH, solar intensity, and water availability, (c) specific characteristics of the plants including surface roughness, thickness, ultrastructure, pubescence, wax content, leaf size, and structure, (d) the composition of the air pollutants, (e) uncertainties surrounding plant-microbe interactions, and (f) the selection of both plants and microbes, which impacts the overall uptake of air pollutants (Lee et al., 2020).Finally, it is important to note that the various processes within the global system (including the terrestrial, atmospheric, and aquatic, compartments of the Earth planet) are interconnected (Tziourrou and Golia, 2024). As a result, environmental pollution (e.g., plastics) can affect different components of the system in multiple and sometimes opposing ways (Tziourrou et al., 2025). Moreover, Brahney et al. (2021) highlighted that plastics exhibit distinct residence times across different environmental compartments. Despite the shift toward biodegradable polymers, non-biodegradable plastics will continue to recirculate within the Earth's systems, while substantial uncertainties persist regarding their sources, transport pathways, and deposition processes (Brahney et al., 2021). FIGURE 1│ A conceptual illustration depicting the possible effects of atmospheric plastics (MPs/NPs) on terrestrial ecosystems and soil health, alongside the wider implications of air pollution. The diagram emphasizes significant knowledge gaps and research inquiries related to environmental impacts, such as potential disturbances to soil processes, plant functionality, and food chain interactions, highlighting the necessity for additional interdisciplinary research. Furthermore, it stresses the vital function of plants in atmospheric remediation, serving as natural filters capable of reducing MPs and other airborne pollutants. The diagram was created using a combination of PowerPoint and artificial intelligence (AI).Phytoremediation of atmospheric MPs/NPs has the potential to influence soil health through multiple, plant-mediated pathways. Plants can intercept airborne MPs/NPs on leaf surfaces and subsequently affect soil properties via leaf litter deposition, root exudation, and interactions within the rhizosphere. These processes may alter soil structure, nutrient cycling, microbial communities, and organic matter dynamics.Although the overall likelihood and magnitude of these effects remain uncertain, available evidence suggests that plant-mediated pathways may play a significant role in transferring atmospheric pollutants to soils.Despite the rapidly growing interest in atmospheric MPs/NPs, studies directly assessing their impacts on soil via phytoremediation remain limited. The current lack of empirical evidence limits quantitative evaluation of these effects; however, it simultaneously highlights a critical and underexplored knowledge gap. Drawing on existing research on MPs in soils and on the phytoremediation of other environmental pollutants, we propose that the interception of atmospheric MPs/NPs by plants and their subsequent transfer to soils-through leaf litter deposition, root-mediated processes, or rhizosphere interactions-may influence soil structure, microbial communities, and key biogeochemical processes. Despite these insights, several critical knowledge gaps remain unresolved. The relative contributions of different plant functional types, the influence of MP/NP characteristics (e.g., size, shape, polymer type), and the long-term impacts on soil physicochemical and biological properties are still poorly understood.To address these gaps, we propose a focused research agenda including testable hypotheses. For example, some tree species may intercept higher loads of airborne MPs compared to other species (e.g. broadleaf vs coniferous), or the deposition of MPs via leaf litter may significantly alter microbial community composition and enzyme activities in soils. Such studies are essential for evaluating the environmental and ecological consequences of atmospheric plastic phytoremediation and for optimizing plant-based mitigation strategies.