Microplastics in plant-microbes-soil system: A review on recent studies

Xinwei Ren; Shan Yin; Lan Wang; Jingchun Tang

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151523

Microplastics in plant-microbes-soil system: A review on recent studies

Sci Total Environ. 2022 Apr 10:816:151523. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151523. Epub 2021 Nov 5.

Authors

Xinwei Ren¹, Shan Yin², Lan Wang³, Jingchun Tang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Rd., Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Yangtze River Delta Eco-Environmental Change and Management Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, 800 Dongchuan Rd, Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Urban Forest Ecosystem Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, 800 Dongchuan Rd., Shanghai 200240, China.
² School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Rd., Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Yangtze River Delta Eco-Environmental Change and Management Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, 800 Dongchuan Rd, Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Urban Forest Ecosystem Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, 800 Dongchuan Rd., Shanghai 200240, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China. Electronic address: envwangl@nankai.edu.cn.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China. Electronic address: tangjch@nankai.edu.cn.

PMID: 34748830
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151523

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have been widely studied, mostly focusing on the methods of separation, detection, and adsorption or the ecological effects in aquatic ecosystems. When different sources and types of MPs/NPs enter the soil, they can affect the biogeochemical cycle in terms of the direct impacts on soil physicochemical properties and soil organisms, and the indirect impact on soil biota through changes in soil material cycling. To date, a few studies have focused on the effects of MPs/NPs on soil ecosystems, including soil properties, microbial communities, soil fauna, and plants, as well as the potential or affirmed correlations among them. In this review, we summarized the recent literature on soil MPs/NPs focusing on their types, sources, separation, and ecological impacts on soil properties, microbes, and plants. We attempted to establish an overall relationship between MPs/NPs and soil plant system. Based on existing studies, we also highlight the research gaps and propose several directions for future studies.

Keywords: Ecological risks; Microplastics; Soil biogeochemical cycle; Soil biota.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Ecosystem
Microbiota*
Microplastics*
Plastics / toxicity
Soil

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics
Soil