Wetland-a hub for microplastic transmission in the global ecosystem

Microplastics in Wetland Ecosystem: A Complex Nexus and Way Forward

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This review examines the distribution, fate, and ecological impacts of microplastics in wetland ecosystems, which serve as both sinks and potential secondary sources of microplastic contamination. Wetlands filter water supplies and support biodiversity, so microplastic accumulation there directly threatens aquatic food webs, drinking water quality, and the communities that depend on these ecosystems.

Influence of microplastic on the aquatic ecosystem

Micro and nanoplastics in terrestrial ecosystems: pathways, health implications, and mitigation strategies

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Tiny plastic fragments from things like plastic mulch, tires, and compost are building up in farm soils, breaking down further, and getting absorbed by plant roots, meaning they could be entering the food we eat. This review pulls together existing research showing these particles can also harm soil health and plant growth, and while early studies suggest they may cause inflammation and cellular stress in living things, scientists still don't have solid data on how risky this is for human health. The takeaway: it's a real and growing concern worth watching, but more research is needed before we know exactly how much it affects us.

Occurrence and Ecotoxicological Effects of Microplastics on Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems

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Researchers reviewed how microplastics — now present in the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe — accumulate in and harm both aquatic and land-based ecosystems, highlighting the broad reach of plastic pollution as a threat to wildlife and potentially to human health.

Microplastics in Terrestrial Ecosystems

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This review assessed microplastic accumulation in terrestrial ecosystems — including agricultural soils, forests, and urban environments — documenting effects on soil structure, earthworm health, plant growth, and microbial diversity driven by decades of dramatic plastic production growth. Because terrestrial environments receive far more microplastic deposition than oceans yet are less studied, the soil contamination documented here directly threatens food production and represents a major underappreciated source of human dietary microplastic exposure through crops and soil-grown produce.