Uptake and bioaccumulation of microplastics by plants: Exploring impacts and remediation potential in terrestrial and aquatic environment

Over the past decade, plastic waste has become a significant contributor to environmental degradation, leading to the widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial ecosystems. While oceans serve as the ultimate sink for MPs, the majority of plastic pollutants accumulate in soil through sources such as sewage sludge, organic fertilizers, plastic mulching, wastewater irrigation, flooding, and atmospheric deposition. Consequently, plants, as key components of terrestrial ecosystems, inevitably interact with MPs. However, understanding of MP uptake, distribution, and the underlying mechanisms in plants remains limited. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the occurrence and movement of MPs in the terrestrial environment, emphasizing their uptake by plants, effects on plant functions, and potential for phytoremediation. Although some studies suggest MPs may marginally improve soil aeration and water retention, their overall impact is detrimental. MPs can disrupt soil microbial communities, reduce nutrient availability, and impair plant growth. Moreover, the uptake of MPs by edible crops raises concerns about their transfer through the food chain, posing health risks to humans. MPs act as carriers for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals, which may lead to endocrine disruption, inflammation, and cellular damage upon ingestion. Future research should prioritize developing advanced methodologies to investigate plant-MP interactions, assess long-term ecological and health impacts, and establish effective mitigation strategies. Promoting sustainable agricultural practices and implementing stricter waste management policies are crucial to minimizing MP pollution and ensuring environmental and food safety.