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Editorial: Plastics in the environment: Understanding impacts and identifying solutions, volume II
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This editorial introduces the second volume of a Frontiers collection on plastics in the environment, with this volume focusing specifically on plastics in soils and the degradation pathways of plastic materials including expanded polystyrene. The editors argue that improving the circularity of plastic use requires understanding how plastics degrade, accumulate, and cause harm in terrestrial environments.
Our first collection of Frontiers articles highlighted the broad diversity of environmental problems caused by the mismanagement of plastics in different settings, and the many challenges that scientists, managers, regulators and stakeholders face in addressing these problems (Filella et al., 2021). This, second series essentially deals with plastics in soils and the degradation of plastic (and in particular, expanded polystyrene). Improving the circularity and management of plastics in soils requires an understanding of their presence, impacts and degradation pathways.
More Papers Like This
Editorial: Plastics in the Environment: Understanding Impacts and Identifying Solutions
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This editorial introduces a special journal collection on understanding the environmental impacts of plastics and identifying solutions, noting that plastic use surged during the COVID-19 pandemic even as awareness of environmental impacts grew. It sets out the scope and goals of the research collection.
Editorial: Effects of microplastics on soil ecosystems
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This editorial introduces a research collection on the effects of microplastics on soil ecosystems, summarising current understanding of how microplastic particles originating from synthetic fibres, microbeads, and fragmented debris accumulate in soils and affect microbial communities, plant growth, soil structure, and water retention. The editorial highlights the importance of soil microbial communities as a key target for assessing the ecosystem-level consequences of microplastic contamination.
Editorial: Impact of microplastics on soil health and plant physiology in agricultural ecosystems
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This editorial introduces a research collection on microplastic impacts in agricultural soil ecosystems, highlighting how plastic contamination alters soil biogeochemical processes, microbial activity, and plant physiology, and calling for a precautionary approach to plastic use in farming.
Editorial: Microplastics and microorganisms in the environment, volume II
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This editorial introduces the second volume of a special journal series on microplastics and microorganisms in the environment, covering how microbial communities interact with plastic particles. The collection reflects growing interest in the Plastisphere — the unique microbial communities that colonize plastic debris in the environment.
The need to focus on plastic in terrestrial environments: Do micro- and nanoplastic affect microorganisms in soil?
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This study used microfluidic chips to test whether micro- and nanoplastic polystyrene particles affect soil microorganisms, finding measurable effects on microbial behavior in simulated soil channels. The results highlight the need for greater research attention on how microplastics affect soil ecosystems, which have received far less study than aquatic environments.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.