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Interaction of Invertebrates and Synthetic Polymers in Soil: A Review
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This review summarizes how microplastics in soil harm invertebrates including nematodes, springtails, and earthworms, while some soil animals can fragment or ingest and transport plastic particles. The presence of microplastics in soil disrupts the gut function of soil organisms that play critical roles in maintaining healthy, productive soils.
Plastic pollution of the environment (including soil) is one of the world’s great problems; however, little is known about the effect of synthetic polymers on the soil community. This review summarizes the results of experimental research on the effects of plastic on different groups of soil animals (21 studies) and soil animals on plastic in the soil (13 studies). The presence of microplastic in soil has a negative influence on nematodes, collembolans, pot worms, and earthworms. The mechanisms of this influence often involve damage or dysfunction of the digestive system. On the other hand, soil animals can contribute to the mechanical degradation of plastics and stimulate their microbial degradation in soil. Based on the extensive experience in studying the consequences of plastic pollution of marine ecosystems, we discuss the main problems, tasks, and prospects of studies on the interaction between plastic and soil animals.
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Interactions between microplastics and soil fauna: A critical review
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This review summarizes how microplastics affect soil animals like earthworms and nematodes, which play crucial roles in maintaining healthy soil. Microplastics can harm these organisms through ingestion, tissue damage, oxidative stress, and disruption of their gut bacteria, reducing their ability to decompose organic matter and cycle nutrients. In turn, soil animals can break down and spread microplastics through the soil, potentially transferring them up the food chain to animals and humans.
How Soil Invertebrates Deal With Microplastic Contamination
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This accessible review explains how different types of soil invertebrates — including earthworms, springtails, and mites — encounter and respond to microplastic contamination in soils. It highlights how these tiny animals, which are vital for nutrient cycling and soil health, are affected by the growing presence of plastic particles in terrestrial ecosystems.
What do we know about how the terrestrial multicellular soil fauna reacts to microplastic?
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This review analyzed the available literature on how soil-dwelling animals respond to microplastics and found evidence of uptake, bioaccumulation, and harmful effects across many groups including earthworms, springtails, and beetles. Most studies used high concentrations not yet found in real soils, limiting conclusions about current environmental risks.
Plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems: Current knowledge on impacts of micro and nano fragments on invertebrates
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This review summarizes research on how micro- and nanoplastics affect soil-dwelling invertebrates like earthworms and insects, finding that effects vary widely depending on plastic type, shape, concentration, and exposure time. While no broad conclusions could be drawn, the documented sublethal effects on soil organisms could disrupt the soil ecosystems that support the crops humans depend on for food.
The Impact of Microplastics on Soil Invertebrates
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Microplastics have been detected throughout soils worldwide, and this editorial review summarises growing evidence that soil invertebrates — including earthworms, springtails, and beetles — ingest, accumulate, and are harmed by microplastic particles. Effects range from physical gut damage and reduced feeding to reproductive impairment, with cascading risks to soil health, nutrient cycling, and the broader food web. This matters because soil invertebrates are keystone organisms; harm to them can degrade the agricultural and ecological services that soils provide.
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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.