Microplastics affect ecosystem multifunctionality: Increasing evidence from soil enzyme activities

Abstract Microplastics (MPs) as emerging contaminants have a global occurrence, including both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Soil enzymes contribute to maintaining ecosystem multifunctionality, for example, nutrient cycling, organic material decomposition, and carbon and climate regulation. Our present review highlights the impacts of MPs on soil enzyme activities, influencing factors, and the underlying mechanisms. Increasing findings confirm that MPs can change the activities of a range of soil enzymes involved in the biogeochemical cycling of C and N. However, current results are highly controversial. The effects of MPs highly vary from significant to nonsignificant and are dependent on polymer type, biodegradability, dosage, size, shape, and aging degree of MPs, and exposure conditions. Compared to traditional MPs, biodegradable MPs generally show more pronounced effects. MPs can change soil enzyme activities via different pathways. On one hand, MPs can directly change soil enzyme structure, leading to alterations in enzyme activity. On the other hand, MPs can create unique habitats, provide carbon sources for specific functional microbes producing enzymes, and release plastic additives and pollutants disturbing the production of these enzymes. Furthermore, MPs can alter soil physicochemical and biological properties, the availability of substrates, plants and soil fauna, regulating soil enzymes and their functions. In conclusion, MPs can regulate soil enzyme activities and pose a profound impact on ecosystem multifunctionality.