Impact of Microplastics on Soil (Physical and Chemical) Properties, Soil Biological Properties/Soil Biota, and Response of Plants to It: A Review

International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
(2024), Vol. 21, No. 16, pp. 10277-10318
M. N. Hanif
a
,
N. Aijaz
b,c
,
K. Azam
d
,
M. Akhtar
e
,
W. A. Laftah
f
,
M. Babur
g
,
N. K. Abbood
h
,
Ian B. Benitez
i
a Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
b MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, Rhizobium Research Center, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
c School of Biomedical Science, Hunan University, Hunan, China
d Institute of Plant Protection, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
e Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
f Polymers and Petrochemicals Engineering Department, Oil and Gas Engineering College, Basrah University for Oil and Gas, Basra, Iraq
g Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
h Oil and Gas Engineering Department, Oil and Gas Engineering College, Basrah University for Oil and Gas, Basra, Iraq
i College of Engineering, FEU Institute of Technology, Manila, Philippines
Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a widespread environmental contaminant, raising growing concerns about their impact on terrestrial ecosystems. This comprehensive review paper highlights the effects of MPs on soil properties, soil organisms, and plants, shedding light on the complex interactions within these critical components of terrestrial environments. In terms of soil properties, plastics, ranging from macroplastics to mesoplastics, microplastics, and nanoplastics, have been found to exert significant influence. They can alter soil physical attributes, including texture, structure, bulk density, water aggregate stability, water holding capacity, and rainwater infiltration. Microplastics can affect soil chemical properties by influencing pH levels, electrical conductivity, nutrient cycling, and enzyme activity, and even can cause heavy metal accumulation in plants. These alterations in soil properties have far-reaching implications for ecosystem health and agricultural productivity. Furthermore, microplastics have substantial repercussions on soil organisms, particularly earthworms, collembolans, and microbial communities comprising bacteria and fungi. These organisms play pivotal roles in nutrient cycling and soil health. Microplastics can disrupt their habitats, affect their behavior, and potentially lead to changes in soil biota composition, with widespread effects throughout the terrestrial food web. Microplastics influence plant growth and development; even the microplastic can be uptaken and translocated within plant tissues. Food safety and ecosystem dynamics are affected by these effects. This review paper emphasizes the urgency of understanding the complex interactions between microplastics and terrestrial ecosystems. It highlights the need for further research to comprehensively assess the extent and implications of microplastic contamination in various soil types, under different environmental conditions, and concerning diverse plastic characteristics. Standardized methodologies for studying these interactions are essential to facilitate comparisons across studies.