Microplastic pollution in soils, plants, and animals: A review of distributions, effects and potential mechanisms

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 850; p. 157857
• Main Authors: Chang, Xiao, Fang, Yi, Wang, Ying, Wang, Fei, Shang, Liyuan, Zhong, Rongzhen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-12-2022
• Subjects: Bioaccumulation; Environmental pollution; Food chain; Microplastic; Soil-plant-animal system; Toxicological effect; Environmental pollution; Microplastic; Bioaccumulation; Toxicological effect; Soil-plant-animal system; Food chain
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157857

Increasing production of synthetic plastics and poor management of plastic wastes have dramatically increased the amount of plastics in the environment. In 2014, at the first United Nations Environment Assembly, marine plastic waste pollution was listed as one of the 10 most pressing environmental issues. In addition, there is much plastic waste in terrestrial ecosystems due to substantial residues from agricultural mulching and packing. As a recently recognized pollutant, microplastics (MPs) have attracted significant attention from the public and various governments. Concentrations of MPs in the environment vary among locations, from <100 to >1 × 106 particles per cubic meter. Many studies have addressed the impacts and potential mechanisms of MPs on the environment and organisms. Humans and other organisms can ingest or carry MPs in a variety of passive ways and these MPs can have a range of negative effects on metabolism, function, and health. Additionally, given their large surface area, MPs can sorb various pollutants, including heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, with serious implications for animals and human wellbeing. However, due to their complexity and a lack of accurate determination methods, the systematic impacts of MP pollution on whole foodwebs are not clearly established. Therefore, this review summarizes current research advances in MP pollution, particularly the impact of MPs on soils, plants, and animals, and proposes potential future research prospects to better characterize MPs.
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•Human-produced microplastics are seriously threatening the human living environment.•Many microplastics and their degradation products are widely distributed in soils, plants and animals.•Microplastics in soils can further lead to many toxic effects on plants and animals.•Microplastics excert cytotoxic, genotoxic and neurotoxic effects on animals.•Future studies are needed to explore microplastic transfer processes in food chains.