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From carrier to reactor: How microplastic as a mobile source of DOM reshapes soil carbon cycling and microbial communities
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This review summarizes existing research on how microplastics in soil interact with dissolved organic matter through physical, chemical and microbial processes. It describes microplastics forming surface biofilms and complexes that affect carbon breakdown, contaminant transport, and the loss of natural soil carbon.
Soil microplastic (MP) pollution is a growing global concern, with MPs ubiquitously detected across ecosystems. This review systematically examines the multifaceted interactions between MPs and soil dissolved organic matter (DOM), focusing on three core mechanisms: physical adsorption, chemical reactions, and microbial mediation. We highlight how MPs transition from passive carriers to active reactors of DOM, influencing DOM molecular diversity, stability, and environmental persistence. Key findings include the role of MP aging in generating reactive oxygen species that accelerate DOM mineralization, and the formation of MPs-DOM complexes that act as mobile vectors for co-transporting contaminants. Notably, microbial colonization forms the "plastisphere" biofilm, which becomes a key interface for DOM transformation and significantly influences carbon cycling. Furthermore, biodegradable MPs induce a strong priming effect, accelerating the loss of native soil organic carbon. This synthesis bridges critical knowledge gaps and provides a scientific basis for risk assessment and policy-making in soil pollution control.
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Soil carbon cycling mediated by microplastics: Formation, mineralization, and sequestration
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This review examines how microplastic pollution affects soil organic carbon cycling, covering direct participation in carbon processes and indirect effects on soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities. The authors synthesize mechanisms by which microplastics influence organic carbon formation, mineralization, and sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems.
Microplastic coupled with soil dissolved organic matter mediated changes in the soil chemical and microbial characteristics
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Researchers conducted a two-month incubation experiment to study how polyethylene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations affect soil carbon composition and microbial communities. They found that microplastics altered the dissolved organic matter in soil and shifted how microbial communities utilized carbon sources. The study suggests that microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils may have cascading effects on soil health and nutrient cycling.
Effects of Microplastics and Organic Fertilizer Regulation on Soil Dissolved Organic Matter Evolution
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This study examined how microplastic addition to soil affects dissolved organic matter (DOM) evolution, focusing on the interactions between microplastics as carbon sources and organic fertilizer. Microplastics altered DOM composition and quantity, with effects on soil carbon cycling that varied by plastic type and organic fertilizer combination, suggesting complex interactions between plastic pollution and soil amendment practices.
Microplastic-DerivedDissolved Organic Matter RegulatesSoil Carbon Respiration via Microbial Ecophysiological Controls
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Researchers investigated how microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter influences soil carbon respiration, finding that carbon compounds leached from microplastics alter soil heterotrophic microbial ecophysiology and thereby affect carbon sequestration dynamics in contaminated soils.
Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter Regulates Soil Carbon Respiration via Microbial Ecophysiological Controls
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Researchers investigated how dissolved organic matter released by microplastics affects the way soil microbes process carbon. They found that compounds leaching from both new and aged microplastics stimulated soil carbon release, with aged microplastics having a larger effect by altering microbial community structure. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution may influence soil carbon cycling and potentially affect how effectively soils store carbon.
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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.