Bioremediation of Microplastic Wastes in Soil

In recent years, microplastics have received much attention as a growing contaminant. It was initially described by Thompson in 2004 and is often characterized as plastic particles with a diameter of less than 5 mm. Some difficult-to-degrade plastics create microplastics, which are gradually crushed into smaller particles after entering the environment and are not eliminated even after specific treatment. Due to their unique characteristics as well as those of the plasticizers, stabilizers, and flame retardants they contain, microplastics that enter the soil environment have the potential to affect soil physicochemical properties, soil functions, and biodiversity, and thy may even cause compound pollution with other pollutants already present in the soil environment. Additionally, due to the nature of MPs, which allows for easy migration and environmental transformation, they run the potential of compromising human and animal health through the food chain. Because of their environmental sustainability and a broad variety of applications, biodegradation techniques are gaining popularity. This chapter discusses the most common techniques for bioremediation of microplastics in the soil as well as the variables that affect these techniques.