Abstract
In the past few decades, pollution from microplastics has emerged as an important issue on a global scale. These plastic particles are mainly the result of anthropogenic activities. Urban sprawl, industrialization, indiscriminate use and poor waste management of plastic products are the main factors responsible for the accumulation of microplastics in different ecosystems of the environment. The presence of microplastics in the soil matrix is considered an emerging threat to agroecosystems. Since most of the studies on microplastics have been done in the aquatic environment. The understanding of the ecotoxicological effects of these contaminants in terrestrial ecosystems is still limited, especially in agroecosystems. The negative effects of microplastics on the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil are now revealing. But the effects of microplastics on plant growth and yield are largely unexplored. Microplastic contamination in the soil can alter the functioning of plants by affecting the microbial community of the rhizosphere and disturbing the homeostasis of the agroecosystem. Furthermore, it may transfer into the plant system through nutrient and water absorption channels and affect plant physiology. The pervasive nature of microplastics in the soil is considered a barrier to sustainable agriculture and ecosystem functioning. The present review gives an overview of the sources, dissipation and effects of microplastics with reference to the soil–plant system, highlights the research gaps, and deciphers the possible future threats to agroecosystems.
Graphical abstract
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Almeida EL, Carrillo Rincon AF, Jackson SA, Dobson ADW (2019) In silico screening and heterologous expression of a polyethylene terephthalate hydrolase (PETase)-like enzyme (SM14est) Journal Pre-proof with polycaprolactone (PCL)-degrading activity, from the marine sponge-derived strain Streptomyces sp. SM14. Front Microbiol 10:1–2187. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02187
Alomar C, Estarellas F, Deudero S (2016) Microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea: deposition in coastal shallow sediments, spatial variation and preferential grain size. Mar Environ Res 115:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.01.005
Antony A, Fudianto R, Cox S, Leslie G (2010) Assessing the oxidative degradation of polyamide reverse osmosis membrane-accelerated ageing with hypochlorite ex-posure. J Membr Sci 347:159–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2009.10.018
Araujo CF, Nolasco MM, Ribeiro A, Ribeiro-Claro P (2018) Identification of microplastics using Raman spectroscopy: latest developments and future prospects. Water Res 142:426–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.05.060
Baho DL, Bundschuh M, Futter MN (2021) Microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems: moving beyond the state of the art to minimize the risk of ecological surprise. Glob Change Biol 27(17):3969–3986. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15724
Bertoldi C, Lara LZ, Gomes AA, Fernandes AN (2021) Microplastic abundance quantification via a computer-vision-based chemometrics-assisted approach. Microchem J 160:105690. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2020.105690
Bläsing M, Amelung W (2018) Plastics in soil: analytical methods and possible sources. Sci Total Environ 612:422–435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.086
Boots B, Russell CW, Green DS (2019) Effects of microplastics in soil ecosystems: above and below ground. Environ Sci Technol 53(19):11496–11506. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b03304
Bosker T, Bouwman LJ, Brun NR, Behrens P, Vijver MG (2019) Microplastics accumulate on pores in seed capsule and delay germination and root growth of the terrestrial vascular plant Lepidium sativum. Chemosphere 226:774–781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.03.163
Bradford MA (2016) Re-visioning soil food webs. Soil Biol Biochem 102:1–3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.08.010
Browne MA, Dissanayake A, Galloway TS, Lowe DM, Thompson RC (2008) Ingested microscopic plastic translocates to the circulatory system of the mussel, Mytilus edulis (L.). Environ Sci Technol 42(13):5026–5031. https://doi.org/10.1021/es800249a
Cao D, Wang X, Luo X, Liu G, Zheng H (2017) Effects of polystyrene microplastics on the fitness of earthworms in an agricultural soil. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci 6(1):012148. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/61/1/012148
Cao Y, Zhao M, Ma X, Song Y, Zuo S, Li H, Deng W (2021) A critical review on the interactions of microplastics with heavy metals: Mechanism and their combined effect on organisms and humans. Sci Total Environ 788:147620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147620
Ceccarini A, Corti A, Erba F, Modugno F, La Nasa J, Bianchi S, Castelvetro V (2018) The hidden microplastics: new insights and figures from the thorough separation and characterization of microplastics and of their degradation byproducts in coastal sediments. Environ Sci Technol 52(10):5634–5643. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b01487
Chen Y, Leng Y, Liu X, Wang J (2020) Microplastic pollution in vegetable farmlands of suburb Wuhan, central China. Environ Pollut 257:113449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113449
Cole M, Lindeque P, Fileman E, Halsband C, Goodhead R, Moger J, Galloway TS (2013) Microplastic ingestion by zooplankton. Environ Sci Technol 47(12):6646–6655. https://doi.org/10.1021/es400663f
Coors A, Edwards M, Lorenz P, Römbke J, Schmelz RM, Topp E, Lapen DR (2016) Biosolids applied to agricultural land: Influence on structural and functional endpoints of soil fauna on a short-and long-term scale. Sci Total Environ 562:312–326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.226
Corradini F, Casado F, Leiva V, Huerta-Lwanga E, Geissen V (2021) Microplastics occurrence and frequency in soils under different land uses on a regional scale. Sci Total Environ 752:141917. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141917
Corradini F, Bartholomeus H, Lwanga EH, Gertsen H, Geissen V (2019a) Predicting soil microplastic concentration using vis-NIR spectroscopy. Sci Total Environ 650:922–932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.101
Corradini F, Meza P, Eguiluz R, Casado F, Huerta-Lwanga E, Geissen V (2019b) Evidence of microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils from sewage sludge disposal. Sci Total Environ 671:411–420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.368
Crichton EM, Noël M, Gies EA, Ross PS (2017) A novel, density-independent and FTIR-compatible approach for the rapid extraction of microplastics from aquatic sediments. Anal Methods 9(9):1419–1428. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ay02733d
Cunsolo S, Williams J, Hale M, Read DS, Couceiro F (2021) Optimising sample preparation for FTIR-based microplastic analysis in wastewater and sludge samples: multiple digestions. Anal Bioanal Chem 413(14):3789–3799. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-021-03331-6
David J, Steinmetz Z, Kučerík J, Schaumann GE (2018) Quantitative analysis of poly (ethylene terephthalate) microplastics in soil via thermogravimetry–mass spectrometry. Anal Chem 90(15):8793–8799. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.8b00355
de Souza Machado AA, Kloas W, Zarfl C, Hempel S, Rillig MC (2018a) Microplastics as an emerging threat to terrestrial ecosystems. Glob Change Biol 24(4):1405–1416. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14020
de Souza Machado AA, Lau CW, Kloas W, Bergmann J, Bachelier JB, Faltin E, Rillig MC (2019) Microplastics can change soil properties and affect plant performance. Environ Sci Technol 53(10):6044–6052. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b01339
de Souza Machado AA, Lau CW, Till J, Kloas W, Lehmann A, Becker R, Rillig MC (2018b) Impacts of microplastics on the soil biophysical environment. Environ Sci Technol 52(17):9656–9665. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b02212
Deng L, Guo W, Ngo HH, Zhang J, Liang S, Xia S, Li J (2014) A comparison study on membrane fouling in a sponge-submerged membrane bioreactor and a conventional membrane bioreactor. Bioresour Technol 165:69–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.02.111
Dong HD, Liu T, Han ZQ, Sun QM, Li R (2015) Determining time limits of continuous film mulching and examining residual effects on cotton yield and soil properties. J Environ Biol 36:677–684
Dong Y, Gao M, Qiu W, Song Z (2021) Effect of microplastics and arsenic on nutrients and microorganisms in rice rhizosphere soil. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 211:111899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.111899
Dong Y, Gao M, Song Z, Qiu W (2020) Microplastic particles increase arsenic toxicity to rice seedlings. Environ Pollut 259:113892. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113892
Dris R, Gasperi J, Rocher V, Saad M, Renault N, Tassin B (2015) Microplastic contamination in an urban area: a case study in greater Paris. Environ Chem 12(5):592–599. https://doi.org/10.1071/EN14167
Duis K, Coors A (2016) Microplastics in the aquatic and terrestrial environment: sources (with a specific focus on personal care products), fate and effects. Environ Sci Eur 28(1):1–25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-015-0069y
Dümichen E, Eisentraut P, Bannick CG, Barthel AK, Senz R, Braun U (2017) Fast identification of microplastics in complex environmental samples by a thermal degradation method. Chemosphere 174:572–584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.02.010
Fakour H, Lo SL, Yoashi NT, Massao AM, Lema NN, Mkhontfo FB, Imani M (2021) Quantification and analysis of microplastics in farmland soils: characterization, sources, and pathways. Agriculture 11(4):330. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11040330
Faucon MP, Houben D, Lambers H (2017) Plant functional traits: soil and ecosystem services. Trends Plant Sci 22(5):385–394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2017.01.005
Fei Y, Huang S, Zhang H, Tong Y, Wen D, Xia X, Barceló D (2020) Response of soil enzyme activities and bacterial communities to the accumulation of microplastics in an acid cropped soil. Sci Total Environ 707:135634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135634
Felsing S, Kochleus C, Buchinger S, Brennholt N, Stock F, Reifferscheid G (2018) A new approach in separating microplastics from environmental samples based on their electrostatic behaviour. Environ Pollut 234:20–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.013
Fischer M, Scholz-Böttcher BM (2017) Simultaneous trace identification and quantification of common types of microplastics in environmental samples by pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Environ Sci Technol 51(9):5052–5060. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b06362
Fuller S, Gautam A (2016) A procedure for measuring microplastics using pressurized fluid extraction. Environ Sci Technol 50(11):5774–5780. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b00816
Galloway TS, Cole M, Lewis C (2017) Interactions of microplastic debris throughout the marine ecosystem. Nat Ecol Evol 1:0116. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-0170116
Gao B, Yao H, Li Y, Zhu Y (2021) Microplastic addition alters the microbial community structure and stimulates soil carbon dioxide emissions in vegetable-growing soil. Environ Toxicol Chem 40(2):352–365. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4916
Gao M, Liu Y, Song Z (2019) Effects of polyethylene microplastic on the phytotoxicity of di-n-butyl phthalate in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. ramosa Hort). Chemosphere 237:124482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124482
Giorgetti L, Spanò C, Muccifora S, Bottega S, Barbieri F, Bellani L, Castiglione MR (2020) Exploring the interaction between polystyrene nanoplastics and Allium cepa during germination: Internalization in root cells, induction of toxicity and oxidative stress. Plant Physiol Biochem 149:170–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.02.014
Groh KJ, Backhaus T, Carney-Almroth B, Geueke B, Inostroza PA, Lennquist A, Leslie HA, Maffini M, Slunge D, Trasande L, Warhurst AM, Muncke J (2019) Overview of known plastic packaging-associated chemicals and their hazards. Sci Total Environ 651:3253–3268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.015
Guo JJ, Huang XP, Xiang L, Wang YZ, Li YW, Li H, Wong MH (2020) Source, migration and toxicology of microplastics in soil. Environ Int 137:105263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105263
Gutierrez-Lopez M, Salmon S, Trigo D (2011) Movement response of Collembola to the excreta of two earthworm species: importance of ammonium content and nitrogen forms. Soil Biol Biochem 43:55–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.09.010
Hanvey JS, Lewis PJ, Lavers JL, Crosbie ND, Pozo K, Clarke BO (2017) A review of analytical techniques for quantifying microplastics in sediments. Anal Methods 9:1369–1383. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6AY02707E
He D, Luo Y, Lu S, Liu M, Song Y, Lei L (2018a) Microplastics in soils: analytical methods, pollution characteristics and ecological risks. Trends Anal Chem 109:163–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2018.10.006
He L, Wu D, Rong H, Li M, Tong M, Kim H (2018b) Influence of nano-and microplastic particles on the transport and deposition behaviors of bacteria in quartz sand. Environ Sci Technol 52(20):11555–11563. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b01673
Hernández-Arenas R, Beltrán-Sanahuja A, Navarro-Quirant P, Sanz-Lazaro C (2021) The effect of sewage sludge containing microplastics on growth and fruit development of tomato plants. Environ Pollut 268:115779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115779
Himu MM, Afrin S, Akbor MA, Siddique MAB, Uddin MK, Rahman MM (2022) Assessment of microplastics contamination on agricultural farmlands in central Bangladesh. CSCEE 100195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2022.100195
Hodson ME, Duffus-Hodson CA, Clark A, Prendergast-Miller MT, Thorpe KL (2017) Plastic bag derived-microplastics as a vector for metal exposure in terrestrial invertebrates. Environ Sci Technol 51:4714–4721. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b00635
Hoffman MJ, Hittinger E (2017) Inventory and transport of plastic debris in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Mar Pollut Bull 115(1–2):273–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.11.061
Hong J, Peralta-Videa JR, Rico C, Sahi S, Viveros MN, Bartonjo J, Gardea-Torresdey JL (2014) Evidence of translocation and physiological impacts of foliar applied CeO2 nanoparticles on cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants. Environ Sci Technol 48:4376–4385. https://doi.org/10.1021/es404931g
Horton AA, Walton A, Spurgeon DJ, Lahive E, Svendsen C (2017) Microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments: Evaluating the current understanding to identify the knowledge gaps and future research priorities. Sci Total Environ 586:127–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.190
Huang Y, Liu Q, Jia W, Yan C, Wang J (2020) Agricultural plastic mulching as a source of microplastics in the terrestrial environment. Environ Pollut 260:114096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114096
Huerta-Lwanga E, Gertsen H, Gooren H, Peters P, Salánki T, Van Der Ploeg M, Geissen V (2016) Microplastics in the terrestrial ecosystem: implications for Lumbricus terrestris (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae). Environ Sci Technol 50(5):2685–2691. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b05478
Huerta-Lwanga E, Vega JM, Quej VK, Chi JDLA, Cid LSD, Chi C, Segura GE, Gertsen H, Salánki T, van der Ploeg M, Koelmans AA, Geissen V (2017) Field evidence for transfer of plastic debris along a terrestrial food chain. Sci Rep 7:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14588-2
Hüffer T, Metzelder F, Sigmund G, Slawek S, Schmidt TC, Hofmann T (2019) Polyethylene microplastics influence the transport of organic contaminants in soil. Sci Total Environ 657:242–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.047
Imran M, Naik DKR (2019) Co-selection of multi-antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens in metal and microplastic contaminated environments: an emerging health threat. Chemosphere 215:846–857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.10.114
Jiang X, Chen H, Liao Y, Ye Z, Li M, Klobučar G (2019) Ecotoxicity and genotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics on higher plant Vicia faba. Environ Pollut 250:831–838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.04.055
Ju H, Zhu D, Qiao M (2019) Effects of polyethylene microplastics on the gut microbial community, reproduction and avoidance behaviors of the soil springtail, Folsomia candida. Environ Pollut 247:890–897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.01.097
Judy JD, Williams M, Gregg A, Oliver D, Kumar A, Kookana R, Kirby JK (2019) Microplastics in municipal mixed-waste organic outputs induce minimal short to long-term toxicity in key terrestrial biota. Environ Pollut 252:522–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.05.027
Junhao C, Xining Z, Xiaodong G, Li Z, Qi H, Siddique K (2021) Extraction and identification methods of microplastics and nanoplastics in agricultural soil: a review. J Environ Manage 294:112997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112997
Kalčíková G, Gotvajn AŽ, Kladnik A, Jemec A (2017) Impact of polyethylene microbeads on the floating freshwater plant duckweed Lemna minor. Environ Pollut 230:1108–1115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.07.050
Käppler A, Windrich F, Löder MGJ, Malanin M, Fischer D, Labrenz M, Eichhorn K, Voit B (2015) Identification of Microplastics by FTIR and Raman microscopy: a novel silicon filter substrate opens the important spectral range below 1300 Cm-1 for FTIR transmission measurements. Anal Bioanal Chem 407(22):6791–6801. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-015-8850-8
Khalid N, Aqeel M, Noman A (2020) Microplastics could be a threat to plants in terrestrial systems directly or indirectly. Environ Pollut. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115653
Kim SK, Kim JS, Lee H, Lee HJ (2021) Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in soils with different agricultural practices: Importance of sources with internal origin and environmental fate. J Hazard Mater 403:123997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123997
Koelmans AA, Besseling E, Foekema E, Kooi M, Mintenig S, Ossendorp BC, Scheffer M (2017) Risks of plastic debris: unravelling fact, opinion, perception, and belief. Environ Sci Technol 11513–11519. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b02219
Kumar MV, Sheela AM (2020) Effect of plastic film mulching on the distribution of plastic residues in agricultural fields. Chemosphere 128590–128590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128590
Kwak JI, An YJ (2021) Microplastic digestion generates fragmented nanoplastics in soils and damages earthworm spermatogenesis and coelomocyte viability. J Hazard Mater 402:124034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124034
Lahive E, Walton A, Horton AA, Spurgeon DJ, Svendsen C (2019) Microplastic particles reduce reproduction in the terrestrial worm Enchytraeus crypticus in a soil exposure. Environ Pollut 255:113174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113174
Lehmann A, Fitschen K, Rillig MC (2019) Abiotic and biotic factors influencing the effect of microplastic on soil aggregation. Soil Syst 3(1):21. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems3010021
Lei L, Liu M, Song Y, Lu S, Hu J, Cao C, He D (2018) Polystyrene (nano) microplastics cause size-dependent neurotoxicity, oxidative damage and other adverse effects in Caenorhabditis elegans. Environ Sci Nano 5(8):2009–2020. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EN00412A
Li S, Ding F, Flury M, Wang Z, Xu L, Li S, Wang J (2022) Macro-and microplastic accumulation in soil after 32 years of plastic film mulching. Environ Pollut 300:118945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118945
Li W, Wufuer R, Duo J, Wang S, Luo Y, Zhang D, Pan X (2020a) Microplastics in agricultural soils: extraction and characterization after different periods of polythene film mulching in an arid region. Sci Total Environ 749:141420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141420
Li J, Song Y, Cai Y (2020b) Focus topics on microplastics in soil: analytical methods, occurrence, transport, and ecological risks. Environ Pollut 257:113570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113570
Li L, Zhou Q, Yin N, Tu C, Luo Y (2019) Uptake and accumulation of microplastics in an edible plant. Sci Bull 64(9):928–934. https://doi.org/10.1360/N972018-00845
Li S, Wang T, Guo J, Dong Y, Wang Z, Gong L, Li X (2021) Polystyrene microplastics disturb the redox homeostasis, carbohydrate metabolism and phytohormone regulatory network in barley. J Hazard Mater 415:125614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125614
Li X, Chen L, Mei Q, Dong B, Dai X, Ding G, Zeng EY (2018) Microplastics in sewage sludge from the wastewater treatment plants in China. Water Res 142:75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.05.034
Li Z, Li Q, Li R, Zhao Y, Geng J, Wang G (2020c) Physiological responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) to microplastic pollution. Environ Sci Technol Res 27:30306–30314. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09349-0
Li Z, Li R, Li Q, Zhou J, Wang G (2020d) Physiological response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) leaves to polystyrene nanoplastics pollution. Chemosphere 255:127041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020b.127041
Lian J, Wu J, Xiong H, Zeb A, Yang T, Su X, Liu W (2020) Impact of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) on seed germination and seedling growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). J Hazard Mater 385:121620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121620
Liang Y, Lehmann A, Ballhausen MB, Muller L, Rillig MC (2019) Increasing temperature and microplastic fibers jointly influence soil aggregation by saprobic fungi. Front Microbiol 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02018
Lin D, Yang G, Dou P, Qian S, Zhao L, Yang Y, Fanin N (2020) Microplastics negatively affect soil fauna but stimulate microbial activity: insights from a field-based microplastic addition experiment. Proc R Soc B 287(1934):20201268. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.1268
Liu M, Lu S, Song Y, Lei L, Hu J, Lv W, He D (2018) Microplastic and mesoplastic pollution in farmland soils in suburbs of Shanghai, China. Environ Pollut 242:855–862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.07.051
Liu EK, He WQ, Yan CR (2014) ‘White revolution’to ‘white pollution’—agricultural plastic film mulch in China. Environ Res Lett 9(9):091001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/9/9/091001
Liu H, Yang X, Liu G, Liang C, Xue S, Chen H, Geissen V (2017) Response of soil dissolved organic matter to microplastic addition in Chinese loess soil. Chemosphere 185:907–917. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.07.064
Liu K, Wang XH, Fang T, Xu P, Zhu LX, Li DJ (2019) Source and potential risk assessment of suspended atmospheric microplastics in Shanghai. Sci Total Environ 675:462–471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.110
Liu S, Wang J, Zhu J, Wang J, Wang H, Zhan X (2021a) The joint toxicity of polyethylene microplastic and phenanthrene to wheat seedlings. Chemosphere. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021a.130967
Liu Y, Huang Q, Hu W, Qin J, Zheng Y, Wang J, Xu L (2021b) Effects of plastic mulch film residues on soil-microbe-plant systems under different soil pH conditions. Chemosphere 267:128901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128901
Löder MGJ, Kuczera M, Mintening S, Lorenz C, Gerdts G (2015) Focal plane array detector based micro- Fourier-transform infrared imaging for the analysis of microplastics in environmental samples. Environ Chem 12:563–581. https://doi.org/10.1071/EN14205
Lozano YM, Lehnert T, Linck LT, Lehmann A, Rillig MC (2021) Microplastic shape, polymer type, and concentration affect soil properties and plant biomass. Front Plant Sci 12:169. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.616645
Lozano YM, Rillig MC (2020) Effects of microplastic fibers and drought on plant communities. Environ Sci Technol 54(10):6166–6173. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c01051
Maes T, Jessop R, Wellner N, Haupt K, Mayes AG (2017) A rapid-screening approach to detect and quantify microplastics based on fluorescent tagging with Nile Red. Sci Rep 7:44501. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep44501
Malyuskin O (2020) Microplastic detection in soil and water using resonance microwave spectroscopy: a feasibility study. IEEE Sens J 20(24):14817–14826. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2020.3011311
Mariano S, Tacconi S, Fidaleo M, Rossi M, Dini L (2021) Micro and nanoplastics identification: classic methods and innovative detection techniques. Front Toxicol 3:636640. https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2021.636640
Möller J, Löder M, Laforsch C (2020) Finding microplastics in soils—a review of analytical methods. Environ Sci Technol 54(4):2078–2090. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b04618
Moog D, Schmitt J, Senger J, Zarzycki J, Rexer KH, Linne U, Erb T, Maier UG (2019) Using a marine microalga as a chassis for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) degradation. Microb Cell Factories 18(1):1–17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-019-1220-z
Morgado V, Gomes L, Bettencourt da Silva RJN, Palma C (2021) Validated spreadsheet for the identification of PE, PET, PP and PS microplastics by micro-ATR-FTIR spectra with known uncertainty. Talanta 234:122624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122624
Naidoo T, Glassom D, Smit AJ (2015) Plastic pollution in five urban estuaries of KwaZulu-Natal. South Afr Mar Pollut Bull 101(1):473–480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.09.044
Ng EL, Lin SY, Dungan AM, Colwell JM, Ede S, Lwanga EH, Chen D (2021) Microplastic pollution alters forest soil microbiome. J Hazard Mater 409:124606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124606
Nizzetto L, Bussi G, Futter MN, Butterfield D, Whitehead PG (2016) A theoretical assessment of microplastic transport in river catchments and their retention by soils and river sediments. Environ Sci Proc Imp 18(8):1050–1059. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6em00206d
Nuelle MT, Dekiff JH, Remy D, Fries E (2014) A new analytical approach for monitoring microplastics in marine sediments. Environ Pollut 184:161–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.07.027
O’Kelly BC, El-Zein A, Liu X, Patel A, Fei X, Sharma S, Singh DN (2021) Microplastics in soils: an environmental geotechnics perspective. Environ Geotech 40:1–33. https://doi.org/10.1680/jenge.20.00179
Paul A, Wander L, Becker R, Goedecke C, Braun U (2018) High-throughput NIR spectroscopic (NIRS) detection of microplastics in soil. Environ Sci Pollut Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2180-2
Piehl S, Leibner A, Löder MG, Dris R, Bogner C, Laforsch C (2018) Identification and quantification of macro-and microplastics on an agricultural farmland. Sci Rep 8(1):1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36172-y
Pignattelli S, Broccoli A, Renzi M (2020) Physiological responses of garden cress (L. sativum) to different types of microplastics. Sci Total Environ 727:138609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138609
Pinnell LJ, Turner JW (2019) Shotgun metagenomics reveals the benthic microbial community response to plastic and bioplastic in a coastal marine environment. Front Microbiol 10:1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01252
Polubesova T, Chefetz B (2014) DOM-affected transformation of contaminants on mineral surfaces: a review. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 44(3):223–254. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2012.710455
Powell JR, Rillig MC (2018) Biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ecosystem function. New Phytol 220(4):1059–1075. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15119
Prata JC, Lavorante BR, Maria da Conceição BSM, Guilhermino L (2018) Influence of microplastics on the toxicity of the pharmaceuticals procainamide and doxycycline on the marine microalgae Tetraselmis chuii. Aquat Toxicol 197:143–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.02.015
QiY BeriotN, Gort G, Lwanga EH, Gooren H, Yang X, Geissen V (2020a) Impact of plastic mulch film debris on soil physicochemical and hydrological properties. Environ Pollut 266:115097
Qi Y, Ossowicki A, Yang X, Lwanga EH, Dini-Andreote F, Geissen V, Garbeva P (2020b) Effects of plastic mulch film residues on wheat rhizosphere and soil properties. J Hazard Mater 387:121711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121711
Qi Y, Yang X, Pelaez AM, Lwanga EH, Beriot N, Gertsen H, Geissen V (2018) Macro-and micro-plastics in soil-plant system: effects of plastic mulch film residues on wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth. Sci Total Environ 645:1048–1056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.229
Sager RE, Lee JY (2018) Plasmodesmata at a glance. J Cell Sci 131:jcs209346. https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.209346
Radford F, Zapata-Restrepo LM, Horton AA, Hudson MD, Shaw PJ, Williams ID (2021) Developing a systematic method for extraction of microplastics in soils. Anal Methods 13(14):1695–1705. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0ay02086a
Ragoobur D, Huerta-Lwanga E, Somaroo GD (2021) Microplastics in agricultural soils, wastewater effluents and sewage sludge in Mauritius. Sci Total Environ 798:149326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149326
Rillig MC, Hoffmann M, Lehmann A, Liang Y, Lück M, Augustin J (2021) Microplastic fibers affect dynamics and intensity of CO2 and N2 O fluxes from soil differently. Microplast Nanoplast 1(1):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591021-00004-0
Rillig MC, Ingraffia R, de Souza Machado AA (2017) Microplastic incorporation into soil in agroecosystems. Front Plant Sci 8:1805. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.01805
RilligMC MDL (2006) Mycorrhizas and soil structure. New Phytol 171(1):41–53. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2006.01750.x
Rillig MC (2012) Microplastic in terrestrial ecosystems and the soil? Environ Sci Technol 46:6453–6454. https://doi.org/10.1021/es302011r
Rodriguez-Seijo A, Lourenço J, Rocha-Santos TAP, da Costa J, Duarte AC, Vala H, Pereira R (2017) Histopathological and molecular effects of microplastics in Eisenia andrei Bouche. Environ Pollut 220:495–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.09.092
Rodríguez-Seijo A, Santos B, da SilvaEF CA, Pereira R (2019) Low-density polyethylene microplastics as a source and carriers of agrochemicals to soil and earthworms. Environ Chem 16(1):8–17. https://doi.org/10.1071/EN18162
Scheurer M, Bigalke M (2018) Microplastics in Swiss floodplain soils. Environ Sci Technol 52(6):3591–3598. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b06003
Schnitzer M (2000) A lifetime perspective on the chemical of soil organic matter. Adv Agron 68(08):1–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(08)60842-1
Schwab F, Zhai G, Ker M, Turner A, Schnoor JL, Wiesner MR (2016) Barriers, pathways and processes for uptake, translocation and accumulation of nanomaterials in plants. Crit Rev Nanotoxicol 10(3):257–278. https://doi.org/10.3109/17435390.2015.1048326
Seidensticker S, Zarfl C, Cirpka OA, Fellenberg G, Grathwohl P (2017) Shift in mass transfer of wastewater contaminants from microplastics in the presence of dissolved substances. Environ Sci Technol 51(21):12254–12263. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b02664
Selonen S, Dolar A, Kokalj AJ, Skalar T, Dolcet LP, Hurley R, Van Gestel CA (2020) Exploring the impacts of plastics in soil–the effects of polyester textile fibers on soil invertebrates. Sci Total Environ 700:134451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134451
Shan J, Zhao J, Liu L, Zhang Y, Wang X, Wu F (2018) A novel way to rapidly monitor microplastics in soil by hyperspectral imaging technology and chemometrics. Environ Pollut 238:121–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.026
Shim WJ, Song YK, Hong SH, Jang M (2016) Identification and quantification of microplastics using Nile Red staining. Mar Pollut Bull 113(1–2):469–476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.10.049
Sierra I, Chialanza MR, Faccio CarrizoD, FornaroL P-P (2020) Identification of microplastics in wastewater samples by means of polarized light optical microscopy. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27(7):7409–7419. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07011-y
Siipola V, Pflugmacher S, Romar H, Wendling L, Koukkari P (2020) Low-cost biochar adsorbents for water purification including microplastics removal. Appl Sci 10(3):788. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10030788
Sobhani Z, Panneerselvan L, Fang C, Naidu R, Megharaj M (2021) Chronic and transgenerational effects of polystyrene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations on earthworms (Eisenia fetida). Environ Toxicol Chem 40(8):2240–2246. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5072
Song Y, Cao C, Qiu R, Hu J, Liu M, Lu S, He D (2019) Uptake and adverse effects of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics fibers on terrestrial snails (Achatina fulica) after soil exposure. Environ Pollut 250:447–455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.04.066
Steinmetz Z, Wollmann C, Schaefer M, Schaefer M, Buchmann C, David J, Troger J, Munoz K, Foro O, Schaumann GE (2016) Plastic mulching in agriculture. Trading short-term agronomic benefits for long-term soil degradation? Sci Total Environ 550:690–705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.153
Syberg K, Khan FR, Selck H, Palmqvist A, Banta GT, Daley J, Duhaime MB (2015) Microplastics: addressing ecological risk through lessons learned. Environ Toxicol Chem 34(5):945–953. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.2914
SaquingTeuten JMEL, Knappe DR, BarlazMA JonssonS, BjörnA TH (2009) Transport and release of chemicals from plastics to the environment and to wildlife. Philos Trans R Soc 364(1526):2027–2045. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0284
Thompson RC (2015) Microplastics in the marine environment: sources, consequences and solutions. In: Marine anthropogenic litter, pp 185–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16510-3_7
Tripathi DK, Singh S, Singh S, Pandey R, Singh VP, Sharma NC, Chauhan DK (2017) An overview on manufactured nanoparticles in plants: uptake, translocation, accumulation and phytotoxicity. Plant Physiol Biochem 110:2–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.07.030
UBA (2015) Klärschlamm and Kompost. https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/boden-landwirtschaft/umweltbelastungen-der-landwirtschaft/kompostklaerschlamm
UNEP (2014) Valuing plastics: the business case for measuring, managing and disclosing plastic use in the consumer goods industry. United Nations Environment Program. Nairobi
van Schothorst B, Beriot N, Huerta Lwanga E, Geissen V (2021) Sources of light density microplastic related to two agricultural practices: the use of compost and plastic mulch. Environments 8(4):36. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments8040036
Wagg C, Bender SF, WidmerF VD, Heijden MG (2014) Soil biodiversity and soil community composition determine ecosystem multifunctionality. Proc Natl Acad Sci 111(14):5266–5270. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1320054111
Waigi MG, Sun K, Gao Y (2017) Sphingomonads in microbe-assisted phytoremediation: tackling soil pollution. Trends Biotechnol 35(9):883–899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2017.06.014
Wan Y, Wu C, Xue Q, Hui X (2019) Effects of plastic contamination on water evaporation and desiccation cracking in soil. Sci Total Environ 654:576–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.123
Wang F, Zhang X, Zhang S, Zhang S, Sun Y (2020) Interactions of microplastics and cadmium on plant growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in an agricultural soil. Chemosphere 254:126791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126791
Wang J, Lv S, Zhang M, Chen G, Zhu T, Zhang S, Luo Y (2016) Effects of plastic film residues on occurrence of phthalates and microbial activity in soils. Chemosphere 151:171–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.02.076
Wang Z, Xie X, Zhao J, Liu X, Feng W, White JC, Xing B (2012) Xylem- and phloem-based transport of CuO nanoparticles in maize. Environ Sci Technol 46(8):4434–4441. https://doi.org/10.1021/es204212z
Wei R, Oeser T, Schmidt J, Meier R, Barth M, ThenJ ZW (2016) Engineered 1532 bacterial polyester hydrolases efficiently degrade polyethylene terephthalate due to relieved product 1533 inhibition. Biotechnol Bioeng 113:1658–1665. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.25941
Wick LY, RemerR WB, Reichenbach J, BraunS SF, Harms H (2007) Effect of fungal hyphae on the access of bacteria to phenanthrene in soil. Environ Sci Technol 41:500–505. https://doi.org/10.1021/es061407s
Wong JKH, Lee KK, Tang KHD, Yap PS (2020) Microplastics in the freshwater and terrestrial environments: prevalence, fates, impacts and sustainable solutions. Sci Total Environ 719:137512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137512
Wu M, Yang C, Du C, Liu H (2020) Microplastics in waters and soils: occurrence, analytical methods and ecotoxicological effects. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 202:110910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110910
Wu WM, Yang J, Criddle CS (2017) Microplastics pollution and reduction strategies. Front Environ Sci Eng 11(1):1–4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-017-0897-7
Yang L, Zhang Y, Kang S, Wang Z, Wu C (2021) Microplastics in soil: a review on methods, occurrence, sources, and potential risk. Sci Total Environ 146546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146546
Yi M, Zhou S, Zhang L, Ding S (2020) The effects of three different microplastics on enzyme activities and microbial communities in soil. Water Environ Res 93(1):24–32. https://doi.org/10.1002/wer.1327
Yu H, Fan P, Hou J, Dang Q, Cui D, Xi B, Tan W (2020) Inhibitory effect of microplastics on soil extracellular enzymatic activities by changing soil properties and direct adsorption: an investigation at the aggregate-fraction level. Environ Pollut 267:115544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115544
Zang H, Blagodatskaya E, Wen Y, Shi L, Cheng F, Chen H, Kuzyakov Y (2020a) Temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter mineralization decreases with long-term N fertilization: evidence from four Q10 estimation approaches. Land Degrad Dev 31(6):683–693. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3496
Zang H, Zhou J, Marshall MR, Chadwick DR, Wen Y, Jones DL (2020b) Microplastics in the agroecosystem: are they an emerging threat to the plant-soil system? Soil Biol Biochem 148:107926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2020.107926
Zarebanadkouki M, Trtik P, Hayat F, Carminati A, Kaestner A (2019) Root water uptake and its pathways across the root: quantification at the cellular scale. Sci Rep 9(1):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49528-9
Zhang GS, Liu YF (2018) The distribution of microplastics in soil aggregate fractions in southwestern China. Sci Total Environ 642:12–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.004
Zhang GS, Zhang FX (2020) Variations in aggregate-associated organic carbon and polyester microfibers resulting from polyester microfibers addition in a clayey soil. Environ Pollut 258:113716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.113716
Zhang M, Zhao Y, Qin X, Jia W, Chai L, Huang M, Huang Y (2019) Microplastics from mulching film is a distinct habitat for bacteria in farmland soil. Sci Total Environ 688:470–478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.108
Zhang S, Wang R, Yang SB, Li Q (2016) Soil aggregation and aggregating agents as affected by long term contrasting management of an Anthrosol. Sci Rep 6(1L):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep39107
Zhao J, Liu L, Zhang Y, WangX WuF (2018) A novel way to rapidly monitor microplastics in soil by hyperspectral imaging technology and chemometrics. Environ Pollut 238:121–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.026
Zhao Q, MaC WJC, Dhankher OP, Zhang X, Zhang S, Xing B (2017) Quantitative evaluation of multi-wall carbon nanotube uptake by terrestrial plants. Carbon NY 114:661–670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2016.12.036
Zhou J, Zang H, Loeppmann S, Gube M, Kuzyakov Y, Pausch J (2020a) Arbuscular mycorrhiza enhances rhizodeposition and reduces the rhizosphere priming effect on the decomposition of soil organic matter. Soil Biol Biochem 140:107641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.107641
Zhou Y, Wang J, Zou M, Jia Z, Zhou S (2020b) Microplastics in soils: a review of methods, occurrence, fate, transport, ecological and environmental risks. Sci Total Environ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141368
Zhou Yanfei, Xiaoning L, Jun W (2019) Characterization of microplastics and the association of heavy metals with microplastics in suburban soil of central China. Sci Total Environ 694:133798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133798
Zhu D, Bi QF, Xiang Q, Chen QL, Christie P, Ke X, Wu LH, Zhu YG (2017) Trophic predator-prey relationships promote transport of microplastics compared with the single Hypoaspis aculeifer, and Folsomia candida. Environ Pollut 235:150–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.058
Zubris KAV, Richards BK (2005) Synthetic fibers as an indicator of land application of sludge. Environ Pollut 138(2):201–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2005.04.013
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the Director, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow INDIA for the support of the study. Ms. Shweta Yadav and Ms. Ekta Gupta are thankful to University Grants Commission (UGC) – India for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (vide Ref. No. 200510169733 and 200510290214, respectively).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Shweta Yadav and Ekta Gupta authors contributed equally.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yadav, S., Gupta, E., Patel, A. et al. Unravelling the emerging threats of microplastics to agroecosystems. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 21, 771–798 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-022-09621-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-022-09621-4