Microplastics (MPs) have become a global environmental concern because of their ubiquitous presence. While extensive microplastic researches have focused on the marine environment, pervasive MPs contamination in soil and their detrimental impacts have been largely overlooked. Excessive concentrations of MPs and additives have been found in soil derived from the use of plastic mulches and the application of sewage sludge to fields. They may pose directly or indirectly as adverse effects on flora and fauna. The objectives of this review are (1) to summarize the abundance, sources, and properties of MPs in soil; (2) to analyze combined effects of MPs and various other environmental pollutants on soil system; and (3) to discuss the possible risks posed by MPs to soil biodiversity, food safety and human health. This review will highlight key future research areas for scientists and policymakers, and increase overall understanding of soil MPs pollution and its potential environmental impacts.
Microplastics as contaminants in the soil environment: A mini-review.
Jiao Wang,Xianhua Liu,Yang Li,T. Powell,Xin Wang,Guangyi Wang,Pingping Zhang
Published 2019 in Science of the Total Environment
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2019
- Venue
Science of the Total Environment
- Publication date
2019-11-15
- Fields of study
Medicine, Environmental Science
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar, PubMed
CITATION MAP
EXTRACTION MAP
CLAIMS
- No claims are published for this paper.
CONCEPTS
- No concepts are published for this paper.