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Toxicological complexity of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems
Summary
This review summarizes how microplastics interact with other pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides in soil, creating combined toxic effects that threaten ecosystems and agriculture. The paper highlights that microplastics can change soil structure and disrupt the communities of microorganisms that keep soil healthy, with ripple effects on crop yields and food security.
Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic debris, smaller than <5 mm, are viewed as persistent contaminants that significantly modify terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity by altering soil microbiota, structure, and functions. This paper summarizes MPs' interactions with various pollutants, including heavy metals and pesticides, also addressing socio-economic impacts, such as reduced agricultural yields and threats to regional fisheries. The study emphasizes the need for an on the basis of waste management model to mitigate these effects, advocating for collaborative efforts among stakeholders. Also, interdisciplinary studies incorporating material sciences, ecology, and environmental policy are essential to confront the challenges of MPs to ecological services. Additionally, the review highlights how MPs can serve as vectors for toxins to damage soil health and species survival. The overview underscores a complex interplay between environmental and socio-economic systems, addressing the urgency of harnessing MPs pollution and protecting ecosystem integrity and sustainability.