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Origin and Effects of Microplastics on Soil Health, Microbial Community and Plants
Summary
This review covers the origins, migration pathways, and ecological effects of microplastics in soil ecosystems, synthesizing research on impacts to soil health, microbial communities, plant growth, and trophic transfer through food chains. The authors highlight the relatively limited understanding of soil microplastic ecology compared to aquatic environments.
Microplastics are a growing threat to entire ecosystems, their presence in soil and water ecosystems has received a lot of attention lately. The detection, occurrence, characterization, and toxicology of microplastics in freshwater and marine ecosystems have been the subject of recent research; yet, compared to aquatic environments, our knowledge of the ecological impacts of microplastics in soil ecosystems is relatively restricted. To address the potential ecological and human health risks caused by microplastics in soil, we have compiled literature here that studies the sources, migration of microplastics in soil, negative impacts on soil health and function, trophic transfer in food chains, and the corresponding adverse effects on soil organisms. This paper aims to fill in information gaps, clarify the ecological impacts of microplastic pollution in soil, and suggest future research directions related to microplastic pollution and the ensuing soil ecotoxicity. To lessen the dangers associated with microplastic contamination, this review also focuses on controlling the amount of microplastics in soil and developing management and remediation strategies.