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Exploring the blindspot: The soil plastisphere
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This commentary reviews the emerging concept of the soil plastisphere — the unique microbial ecosystem colonizing plastic debris in soil — highlighting key differences from the better-studied marine plastisphere in microbial communities, biogeochemical cycles, and ecological effects. Understanding soil plastisphere dynamics is critical because these plastic-associated microbes may alter nutrient cycling, spread antibiotic resistance, and change how toxic chemicals move through agricultural and natural soils.
Plastic pollution is a growing concern in soil ecosystems worldwide. The accumulation of (micro)plastic debris leads to a unique microenvironment, termed the “plastisphere.” Notably, the dynamics and behaviors of the soil plastisphere diverge from its marine counterpart, where it is initially defined, thereby likely exhibiting an uncharacterized feature in ecological effects and biogeochemistry. The understanding of the soil plastisphere holds significant implications for environmental science and practical applications in pollution management and agricultural practices. Compared with the oceanic plastisphere, research on the soil plastisphere is still in its infancy with limited but significant studies contributing to current knowledge. A recent seminal work by Rillig et al. (Rillig et al., 2023. Nature Reviews Microbiology. doi:10.1038/s41579-023-00967-2) has inspired us and provided comprehensive insights into the characteristics and function of the soil plastisphere. In this commentary, we present core aspects of the soil plastisphere, encompassing its microbial communities, biogeochemical processes, and ecological implications, as well as highlight current methodologies probing this domain.
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Plastisphere and Soil Biodiversity
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This chapter reviews how discarded plastics accumulate in soil ecosystems and give rise to a distinct microbial community called the plastisphere, altering soil biodiversity and ecological function. The plastisphere can harbor novel microbial assemblages including potential pathogens and antibiotic-resistant organisms, meaning plastic soil pollution has implications beyond chemical toxicity for human and ecosystem health.
Microbial Ecology of the Plastisphere in Soil Plant Uptake
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Researchers examined the microbial ecology of the plastisphere in soil environments and its role in plant uptake, finding that microplastic-associated microbial communities alter soil health and can facilitate transfer of plastic particles and associated contaminants into plant tissues.
Microplastics in Soil-Plant Systems
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This review synthesized evidence on microplastic contamination in terrestrial soil-plant systems, examining effects on soil structure, nutrient cycling, microbial communities, and plant uptake of plastic particles. Because plants can absorb microplastics and translocate them into edible tissue, agricultural soil contamination represents a direct and underappreciated pathway of human dietary exposure to plastic particles.
Microplastics and Their Effects on Soil Function as a Life-Supporting System
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Microplastics alter essential soil functions by changing soil structure, water retention, microbial communities, and nutrient cycling in ways that threaten the life-supporting capacity of agricultural and natural soils. As terrestrial microplastic contamination continues to grow — exceeding ocean concentrations in many regions — the long-term health of soil ecosystems and food production is at risk.
Small Plastic Wastes in Soils: What Is Our Real Perception of the Problem?
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Researchers argued that terrestrial soils have been largely ignored as a source and reservoir of microplastic pollution, even though soil likely contains far more microplastics than aquatic systems and serves as the primary pathway plastics take to reach rivers and oceans. Addressing soil contamination may be the most critical step in solving the broader microplastics crisis.
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