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Global perspective of ecological risk of plastic pollution on soil microbial communities
Summary
This review examined how plastic pollution affects soil microbial communities worldwide, looking at factors like plastic type, size, and soil conditions. The researchers highlight that current studies often use unrealistically high plastic concentrations and short exposure times, making it hard to predict real-world impacts. They call for more field-based research, especially on nanoplastics and their effects on soil food webs and ecosystem functions.
To include a comprehensive examination of the combined effects of plastic residue properties (Type, element composition, size and age), soil properties (soil texture, pH) at environmentally relevant concentrations with various exposure durations under field conditions in future studies is crucial for a holistic understanding of the impact of plastic pollution on soil ecosystems. Risk assessment of plastic pollution, particularly for nanoplasctics, from the perspective of soil food web and ecosystem multifunctioning is also needed. By addressing critical knowledge gaps, scholars can play a pivotal role in developing strategies to mitigate the ecological risks posed by plastic pollution on soil microorganisms.