A critical review on interaction of microplastics with organic contaminants in soil and their ecological risks on soil organisms

Abstract

The pollution of microplastics (MPs) in soil has become a global environmental problem. Due to high sorption capacity and persistence in environment, the MPs exhibit combined effects with organic pollutants in soil, thereby posing a potential risk to soil ecology and human health. However, limited reviews are available on this subject. Therefore, in response to this issue, this review provides an in-depth account of interaction of MPs with organic contaminants in soil and the combined risks to soil environment. The sorption of organic contaminants onto MPs is mainly through hydrophobic and π-π interactions, hydrogen bonding, pore filling and electrostatic and van der Waals forces. The intrinsic characteristics of MPs, organic contaminants and soil are the key factors influencing the sorption of organic pollutants onto MPs. Importantly, the presence of MPs changes the sorption, degradation and transport behaviors of organic contaminants in soil, and affects the toxic effects of organic contaminants on soil organisms including animals, plants and soil microorganisms through synergistic or antagonistic effects. Source control, policy implementation and plastic removal are the main preventive and control measures to reduce soil MPs pollution. Finally, priorities for future research are proposed, such as field investigations of co-pollution, contribution of plastisphere to organic contaminant degradation, and mechanisms of MPs effects on organic contaminant toxicity.

Keywords: Ecological risks; Interactions; Microplastics; Organic pollutants; Soil.