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Factors Influencing the Vertical Migration of Microplastics up and down the Soil Profile
Summary
This review summarizes the factors that cause microplastics to move vertically through soil layers, including the physical properties of both the plastic particles and the soil itself. Researchers found that soil organisms, rainfall, dissolved organic matter, and agricultural practices like tilling and irrigation all contribute to driving microplastics deeper underground. The findings highlight the need to better understand how these particles migrate through soil, as they can eventually reach groundwater.
Soil ecosystems are under serious threat from microplastics (MPs), and this is causing worldwide concern. The relationship between soil and MPs has become a popular research topic, and the vertical migration of soil MPs is of increasing interest. This Review summarizes the current status of research into the factors affecting the vertical migration of soil MPs. Published research shows that the characteristics of MPs and the physicochemical properties of the soil affect the infiltration process. Soil organisms play a key role in the vertical migration by acting as vectors or as a result of adsorption. Dissolved organic matter and metal oxides transfer MPs by adsorption-desorption. In addition, rainfall and dry-wet cycles alter the mobility of soil MPs, leading to changes in migration processes. Agricultural activities such as tillage and irrigation may distribute MPs throughout the topsoil. Vertical migration of soil MPs is a process influenced by a combination of factors, and the role of these factors in MP deposition needs to be explored further.
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