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Microplastic pollution in agriculture soil: An updated review

World Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology and Sciences 2025 1 citation ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 53 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Raju K. Chalannavar, Kiran P. Kolkar, Divakar MS, Ravindra B. Malabadi, Kishore S. Karamchand, Himansu Baijnath

Summary

This review provides an updated overview of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils, covering sources including plastic mulching, sewage irrigation, contaminated rainwater, and atmospheric deposition. Researchers highlight how microplastics alter soil structure, fertility, and microbial diversity, with potential implications for crop health and food safety. The study calls for development of cost-effective detection methods for rapid identification of microplastics in soil systems.

Body Systems

Microplastic contamination in agricultural soil is one of the major problems worldwide as it contaminates the food chain. In modern agriculture, plastic utilization introduces microplastics into soils through diverse practices, including plastic mulching, sewage irrigation, contaminated rain water entering into agricultural land, rivers, ponds, and lakes, soil amendment, fertilizer coatings, littering, run off, and atmospheric deposition. The potential transfer of microplastics through the food chain raises concerns regarding human health. Microplastics change soil properties such as soil structure, fertility, and functioning as well as the diversity of microbes, which may have implications for plant and animal health and pose possible risks for the safety and quality of food, ultimately jeopardizing human health. Therefore, cost effective detection methods should be developed for the quick identification of micro plastics in soil system. Addressing these challenges is crucial for ensuring soil health, food security, and environmental sustainability.

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