Global Responses of Soil Carbon Dynamics to Microplastic Exposure: A Data Synthesis of Laboratory Studies

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 58; no. 13; pp. 5821 - 5831
• Main Authors: Xiang, Yangzhou, Rillig, Matthias C., Peñuelas, Josep, Sardans, Jordi, Liu, Ying, Yao, Bin, Li, Yuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 02.04.2024
• Subjects: Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Biogeochemical Cycling; Biomass; Carbon; Cycles; edaphic factors; Environmental impact; meta-analysis; microbial biomass; Microorganisms; Microplastics; Organic carbon; photosynthesis; Plastic debris; Shape effects; soil; Soil contamination; Soil dynamics; Soil environment; soil organic carbon; Soil properties; soil respiration; Soils; technology; soil respiration; meta-analysis; soil organic carbon; microplastics
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06177

Microplastics (MPs) contamination presents a significant global environmental challenge, with its potential to influence soil carbon (C) dynamics being a crucial aspect for understanding soil C changes and global C cycling. This meta-analysis synthesizes data from 110 peer-reviewed publications to elucidate the directional, magnitude, and driving effects of MPs exposure on soil C dynamics globally. We evaluated the impacts of MPs characteristics (including type, biodegradability, size, and concentration), soil properties (initial pH and soil organic C [SOC]), and experimental conditions (such as duration and plant presence) on various soil C components. Key findings included the significant promotion of SOC, dissolved organic C, microbial biomass C, and root biomass following MPs addition to soils, while the net photosynthetic rate was reduced. No significant effects were observed on soil respiration and shoot biomass. The study highlights that the MPs concentration, along with other MPs properties and soil attributes, critically influences soil C responses. Our results demonstrate that both the nature of MPs and the soil environment interact to shape the effects on soil C cycling, providing comprehensive insights and guiding strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of MPs.