We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Soil Microplastic Pollution and its Remediation: An Overview
Summary
This overview reviews the scope of microplastic pollution in soils globally, summarizing contamination sources, effects on soil ecosystems, and available remediation strategies including physical, chemical, and biological approaches to address this emerging environmental problem.
The global annual production of plastics increases year by year. The problem of plastic pollution comes from using plastic in virtually all our life activities. Thus, plastic pollution affects freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems. Microplastics have received considerable attention in aquatic ecosystems, but much less in the soil ecosystem. The use of plastic in agriculture is called agri-plastics and is used as an alternative to glass, paper, and mulch to achieve better crop yields and quality. Microplastic results from breaking plastic into small pieces (<5 mm) and can come from many different sources. Soil pollution by microplastics has been reported to negatively affect the soil microbial community, pollute groundwater, and have both direct and indirect toxic effects on humans and the food chain. The environmental fate of plastics and risks of plastic degradation products in soil is discussed. Remediation of microplastics includes physical, chemical and biological approaches. The best remediation approaches depend on the microplastic’s origin, polymer composition, particle size, and shape. Microplastics in soil are still poorly understood and needs more investigation.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
The Effect of Microplastic Pollution on Soil, Plants and Soil Microbes and Its Remediation
This review summarized evidence for microplastic effects on soil properties, plant growth, soil microbes, and food safety, identifying microplastic pollution as a significant emerging threat to terrestrial ecosystems. The authors also reviewed bioremediation and physical removal strategies as potential remediation approaches.
Micro Plastic Pollution in Soil Environment: A Comprehensive Review
This comprehensive review covers sources, distribution, degradation pathways, and ecological effects of microplastics in soil environments, highlighting threats to soil fauna, microbiota, and plant growth.
The extent and impacts of soil pollution by microplastics
This study examines the extent and impacts of soil pollution by microplastics, reviewing evidence of how microplastic particles accumulate in terrestrial environments and affect soil ecosystems, organisms, and agricultural systems.
Paving the way toward soil safety and health: current status, challenges, and potential solutions
This review examines the global threats to soil health from industrial chemical contamination and explores potential solutions including monitoring, advanced remediation technologies, and holistic soil management. While covering soil pollution broadly, it is relevant to microplastics because they are a major and growing soil contaminant that is extremely difficult to remove once introduced. The review emphasizes that preventing pollutants from entering soil is far more effective and less costly than trying to clean up contamination afterward.
A review of microplastics in soil: Occurrence, analytical methods, combined contamination and risks
This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic pollution in soil ecosystems, covering sources, detection methods, and ecological impacts. Researchers found that soils are major reservoirs for microplastics, and the study highlights how combined contamination with other pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides may amplify risks to soil organisms and food safety.