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Unveiling the Microplastic Menace
Summary
This review addresses the growing microplastic menace -- particles 5 mm and smaller -- focusing on how different polymer types interact with soil pollutants and accumulate across environmental compartments. The authors discuss the compounding ecological risks from microplastic co-contamination with heavy metals and other soil pollutants.
Microplastics (MPs) pollution, consisting of tiny particles measuring ≤5 mm, is an escalating concern that has garnered widespread attention due to its presence in various environments. Depending on the type of MPs, they exhibit different interactions with other soil pollutants, consequently affecting the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties, as well as nutrient availability and plant performance. The presence of MPs in the soil can bring about alterations in the soil ecosystem, including its microbiome. Additionally, MPs and their associated pollutants can enter the food chain through soil–plant systems, potentially posing risks to human health. While studies on marine environments have shown that MPs can cause shifts in the microbiome, research investigating the effects of MPs on the soil microbiome remains scarce. Therefore, this chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of soil MP pollution. It will primarily focus on the impact of MPs on soil communities; by doing so, this book chapter seeks to shed light on the potential ecological consequences stemming from the interaction between MPs and soil microbes.