Micro plastics in soil ecosystem – A review of sources, fate, and ecological impact

Abstract

In recent years, environmental experts and stakeholders have paid increased attention to the pollution of micro plastics in the soil. As persistent pollutants, micro plastics have a significant impact on the soil ecology, agricultural production, and the overall health of the ecological environment. Micro plastics can influence soil bio-physicochemical properties and the mobility of other contaminants in soil, with potentially significant implications on soil ecosystem functionality. Thus, functions including litter decomposition, soil aggregation or those related to nutrient cycling can be altered. Furthermore, micro plastics can influence soil biota at different trophic levels, and even threaten human health through food chains. Despite this potential negative interaction, there is limited research on micro plastics in the soil environment. The primary goals of this review are to summarise the sources, distribution characteristics, migration and degradation laws of micro plastics in the soil ecosystem, to summarise the combined effects of micro plastics and other pollutants in the soil ecosystem, to analyse the effects of micro plastics on soil physical and chemical properties, animals, plants, and microorganisms, and to reveal the effects of micro plastics on soil ecosystem and to according to the distribution characteristics of soil micro plastics, degradation, migration and ecological effects, propose pollution control measures. This current review will provide a comprehensive understanding of soil pollution by micro plastic and offer a scientific basis for the formulation of novel management practices that will protect and improve soils, and contribute to the sustainable development of the ecological environment and highlight important areas for future research.