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Microplastics in terrestrial environments: Reviewing current understanding to determine the positive and negative aspects of soil
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This review examines microplastics in terrestrial soils, covering sources, distribution, and effects on soil health and organisms. It finds both negative impacts — reduced soil function, harm to earthworms and plants — and some neutral effects, highlighting significant research gaps.
Plastic production and disposal have grown to be serious issues for the future of the world. The long lifespan and extensive use of synthetic polymers have contributed to the occurrence of plastic waste in the environment on a global scale. Plastic, which can be found in soils, species that live in and around soil, and adjacent to plants, is a novel stressor. There is very little known about the prevalence of microplastics in terrestrial systems. This paper provides an extensive overview of the current understanding of the causes, manifestations, impact and dangers of microplastic pollution in terrestrial (agricultural) settings.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in terrestrial environments: Reviewing current understanding to determine the positive and negative aspects of soil
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines microplastics in terrestrial soils, covering their sources, distribution, and effects on soil health and organisms. It finds both negative impacts on soil function and organisms, as well as some neutral or context-dependent effects, and identifies key areas for future research.
A review of microplastics in the soil environment
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This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about microplastic contamination in soil environments, covering sources, distribution, and effects on soil organisms and ecosystems. The study highlights that while aquatic microplastic research is more advanced, soil contamination poses significant but understudied risks to terrestrial ecosystems and food production.
Microplastic in Terrestrial Ecosystems and the Soil?
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This review examined the occurrence and behavior of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems and soils, questioning how particles move through and accumulate in soils and calling for more research on land-based microplastic impacts.
Origin and Effects of Microplastics on Soil Health, Microbial Community and Plants
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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.
Exploring the Impact of Micro-plastics on Soil Health and Ecosystem Dynamics: A Comprehensive Review
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This review examines how microplastics affect soil health, finding that they alter soil structure, water retention, and the organisms that live in soil. Microplastics can carry toxic substances into soil and interact with other pollutants to amplify harmful effects on earthworms and soil microbes. Since healthy soil is essential for growing safe food, microplastic contamination of agricultural land could have long-term consequences for the food supply and human health.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.