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Microplastic accumulation in soils: Unlocking the mechanism and biodegradation pathway
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics accumulate in soil and break down biologically, finding that certain microorganisms can form biofilms on plastic surfaces and use enzymes to slowly degrade the polymers — though conditions like pH, temperature, and moisture must be optimized and new plastic-degrading microbes need to be identified before this approach can be widely applied.
• Microplastic pollution in soil poses a significant environmental challenge. • Biodegradation offers a promising method for reducing soil microplastic pollution. • Optimizing conditions for microplastic-degrading microbes is essential for success. • Research is needed to develop strategies to protect ecosystems from microplastics. Plastic pollution has become a pressing environmental issue, with significant quantities of microplastics (MPs) contaminating terrestrial ecosystems. In agro-environments and soils, the abundance of MPs has been reported to range from 3.7 to 40,800 items per kilogram. Once MPs enter the soil, their accumulation can have several detrimental effects on the soil environment and ecosystems. This review summarizes current research on the biodegradation of MP-contaminated soils. The primary mechanism of MP biodegradation involves enzymatic oxidation and hydrolysis, leading to the formation of functional groups. The interaction between microorganisms and polymers involves various processes, including colonization, biofilm formation, and biodegradation. Microorganisms can adhere to polymer surfaces where they build biofilms as complex microbial communities embedded in an extracellular polymeric matrix. These biofilms facilitate microbial activity and can boost their ability to degrade polymers. The biodegradation of MPs in soil is a promising strategy to address MPs pollution. However, further research is needed to optimize degradation conditions, identify MPs-degrading microorganisms, and assess the long-term environmental impacts of biodegradation techniques. Several key factors, including pH, temperature, salinity, moisture, and oxygen content as environmental conditions, as well as specific enzyme activities, should be considered to promote biodegradation. This review also suggests future research directions to increase our understanding of this important area and develop effective strategies to mitigate MP contamination in soil ecosystems. Further research should focus on identifying new types of microbes that degrade plastics and engineering enzymes that degrade MPs.
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[Interaction between microplastics and microorganisms in soil environment: a review].
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This review examines how microplastics alter soil microbial community structure and diversity, and how microorganisms in turn colonize plastic surfaces and degrade them through extracellular enzymes — with degradation efficiency dependent on polymer properties and environmental conditions.
Microbial remediation of microplastic-contaminated soil, focusing on mechanisms, benefits, and research gaps
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This systematic review examines microbial bioremediation of microplastic-contaminated soils, covering the sources and distribution of soil microplastics, their physicochemical interactions with soil microbiomes, and the mechanisms by which soil-dwelling bacteria and fungi degrade plastic polymers.
The Role of Soil Microorganisms in Microplastic Biodegradation: Mechanisms, Carbon Preferences, and Ecological Impacts
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This review examines how soil microorganisms interact with microplastics and attempt to biodegrade them, finding that despite plastics being carbon-based, their unique chemical structures prevent microbes from using them the same way they use natural organic matter. Soil carbon availability affects which microbes preferentially colonize and partially break down plastic particles, but full assimilation remains limited. Understanding microbial degradation pathways is important for assessing how long microplastics persist in soils and for developing bioremediation strategies.
Unravelling the ecological ramifications of biodegradable microplastics in soil environment: A systematic review
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Researchers reviewed 85 studies on biodegradable microplastics in soil, finding that when biodegradable plastics fail to fully break down they can disrupt soil structure, nutrient cycling, and microbial life in ways that depend heavily on concentration and plastic type. The review highlights that "biodegradable" plastics are not a simple fix for microplastic pollution in agricultural soils.
Effect of microplastics on soil microbial community and microbial degradation of microplastics in soil: A review
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This review examines how microplastics affect soil microbial communities and the potential for microbes to degrade plastic particles in soil environments. The study highlights that soil acts as a major sink for microplastics from sources like sewage sludge, agricultural mulch, and wastewater, and identifies key knowledge gaps including the need for better monitoring of microplastic sources and exploration of microbial biodegradation potential.
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