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Characteristics of Particulate Plastics in Terrestrial Ecosystems
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This book chapter reviews the distribution and effects of micro- and nanoplastic particles (called particulate plastics) in terrestrial ecosystems, tracing how industrial and agricultural activities drive their accumulation in soil and land environments. It identifies particulate plastics as a growing threat to both human and animal health.
This chapter discusses the term particulate plastics (PPs), which encompasses both micro and nanoplastics, and is therefore defined as ranging from 5 mm down to the nano-meter range. Contamination of terrestrial environments with PPs is continuously increasing and is considered to be one of the major threats to human and animal health. Rapid development in industrial and agricultural activities and overconsumption by humans have sped up the manufacturing of plastic wastes and their consequent disposal into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Particulate plastics are broadly defined as synthetic polymers less than 5 mm in size, and they can be of a primary or secondary origin. Plastic fibers have received considerable attention regarding biodegradable and biosynthetic alternatives. The particulate plastic’s colors also influence how easily they are observed, and therefore can impact their sampling likelihood. PPs that are brighter in color, for example, red, are more likely to be observed and extracted than those that blend into the substrate.
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This review examines how microplastics from packaging, automotive, and electronics industries accumulate in terrestrial ecosystems and affect soil health, plant growth, and wildlife. The authors assess the slow degradation rates and transformative fate of plastic particles in the terrestrial food web.
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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.