We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Understanding the impact of microplastic contamination on soil quality and eco-toxicological risks in horticulture: A comprehensive review
Summary
This review examines how microplastic contamination in horticultural soils affects soil quality, plant health, and food safety. Microplastics alter soil structure, reduce beneficial microbial activity, and can transfer toxic chemicals to edible crops. Since horticulture provides a significant portion of the global food supply, understanding and addressing microplastic contamination in these soils is critical for protecting human health.
The horticulture sector, essential for global food production, confronts significant challenges with prevalent pollutants, mainly microplastics. The presence of microplastics in the food chain has induced physiological stress and a multifactorial food safety concern. The complexity of the problem, arising from intricate interactions among microplastics, organisms, and ecosystems, poses a substantial challenge to food safety, necessitating an immediate strategic perspective due to the associated risks to human health and eco-toxicology. Significant knowledge gaps persist regarding their impact on terrestrial ecosystems, especially in horticulture. This study addresses the urgent need to comprehend the implications of microplastics on soil health, eco-toxicological risks, and nutrient dynamics in horticultural environments. The review covers potential sources of microplastics, their impact on horticultural crops including eco-toxicity, various identification techniques, and proposed mitigation measures, offering insights for environmentalists, biotechnologists, and policymakers to proactively mitigate risks.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Assessment of Microplastics Pollution on Soil Health and Eco-toxicological Risk in Horticulture
This review examines microplastic pollution in horticultural soils and its effects on soil health, crops, and associated eco-toxicological risks. Researchers found that microplastics enter the food chain through edible fruit crops, presenting a multifactorial food safety concern that requires strategic approaches to monitoring and mitigation in agricultural systems.
Tiny toxins, big problems: the hidden threat of microplastic in agroecosystems
This review examines the impacts of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils, covering sources from plastic mulch and irrigation, effects on soil structure, water retention, microbial diversity, and nutrient cycling, and consequences for crop health and food safety.
Micro (nano) plastic pollution: The ecological influence on soil-plant system and human health.
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics affect soil health, plant growth, and food quality, finding that these particles accumulate in plant root systems and can reduce crop yields and alter nutritional content. Since contaminated soil and water are increasingly delivering microplastics to food crops, these findings are directly relevant to agricultural food safety.
Microplastic contamination in the agricultural soil—mitigation strategies, heavy metals contamination, and impact on human health: a review
This review examines how microplastics contaminate agricultural soil through plastic mulch, irrigation water, and fertilizers, then alter soil chemistry, harm beneficial microorganisms, and reduce crop productivity. The authors highlight that microplastics can accumulate in crops and enter the human food chain, posing risks to food safety and human health, particularly through daily food and water consumption.
A Review on Microplastic in the Soils and Their Impact on Soil Microbes, Crops and Humans
This review examines microplastic contamination in agricultural soils, detailing how microplastic particles act as vectors for toxic organic pollutants and heavy metals, disrupting soil physicochemical properties, microbial communities, crop growth, and ultimately entering the human food chain.