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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Marine & Wildlife Remediation Sign in to save

Ecological Effects of Soil Microplastic Pollution

Science Insights 2019 36 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Group of Ecosystem, Division of Biology and Chemistry, The BASE, Chapel Hill, NC 27510, USA, Rogers Leed, Moore Smithson, Group of Environment Protection, Division of Energy and Resources, The BASE, Chapel Hill, NC 27510, USA

Summary

This review summarizes how microplastics contaminate soils, what effects they have on soil animals and microbes, and how they disrupt carbon and nitrogen cycling. As soils are the base of terrestrial food webs, microplastic-induced changes in soil ecosystems have cascading effects on food safety and human health.

As a new type of environmental pollutant, microplastics pose a serious threat to soil ecosystems. We reviewed the classification and source of soil microplastics, separation, detection methods and existing problems. The pollution of soil microplastics and the adsorption effect and mechanism of microplastics on pollutants are summarized. The effects on soil animals, microbial ecology and carbon, nitrogen and other material cycles were analyzed. Furthermore, the ecological effects of microplastics are proposed, which provides new ideas for the study of soil microplastics in the future.

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