Occurrence and Ecological Impacts of Microplastics in Soil Systems: A Review

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 102; no. 6; pp. 741 - 749
• Main Authors: Zhu, Fengxiao, Zhu, Changyin, Wang, Chao, Gu, Cheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic Pollution; Arable land; Contaminants; Contamination; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecosystems; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; environmental impact; Fertilizers; Focused Review; Industrial pollution; Irrigation; Microplastics; Plastic debris; Plastic pollution; Pollution; Polymers; soil; Soil contamination; soil ecosystems; Soil environment; Soil microorganisms; Soil pollution; Soil Science & Conservation; Source studies; Toxicity; Toxicology; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Impact; Soil; Microplastic; Biota; Distribution
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-019-02623-z

Microplastics, as a group of emerging contaminants, are receiving growing attention. During the last decade, their occurrence and toxicity in aquatic ecosystems have been intensively studied and reviewed, but less attention has been paid on soil ecosystems. Given the importance of soil ecosystems and the call for increasing research on soil from scientific communities, it is predicted that relevant studies will boom in the following years. The present review intends to provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on microplastic pollution in soil environments. We critically summarize the source, contamination level and fate of microplastics in (industrial and arable) soils. Then, we thoroughly describe what effects have been observed on soil microbes, animals and plants, and analyze what insights we can get from available information. Finally, we identify knowledge gaps that need to be filled and give suggestions for future research.