Micro Plastic Pollution in Soil Environment: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Plastic is a substance that is fundamental to current human existence. However, the issue of plastic trash polluting the environment has emerged due to the rapidly growing demand for plastic use. Even though some used plastics are recycled or burned for energy, a significant amount of plastic waste is landfilled or released into marine and terrestrial habitats worldwide. Particularly, trash made of microplastics smaller than 5 mm is regarded as a rising global problem for contamination. Nonetheless, the majority of studies on the effects of microplastic pollution conducted in the previous ten years have been on the marine ecosystem, with relatively few on the terrestrial ecology. One may argue that soil serves as both a significant source of microplastic pollution and a conduit for it into the aquatic ecosystem. The majority of microplastic sources in soil settings enter through a variety of openings, fragment, and spread both vertically and horizontally to the surrounding surroundings. Additionally, there are detrimental effects on the soil biota, which could influence the food web and raise questions about human health. This overview of microplastics' properties, research trends, analytical techniques, migration and degradation processes, impacts on soil biogeochemistry, and interactions with soil organisms highlights the significance of continuing studies on the effects of microplastics on terrestrial ecosystems.