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Impacts of microplastics on terrestrial plants

A critical review

Bibliographic Data

ID21649064
AuthorsXiaoqi Sun (0000-0002-4503-8825, Korea Biochar Research Center, Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Sustainable Waste Management Program & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering Korea University Seoul Republic of Korea), Piumi Amasha Withana (0000-0002-6708-2798, Korea Biochar Research Center, Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Sustainable Waste Management Program & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering Korea University Seoul Republic of Korea), Kumuduni Niroshika Palansooriya (0000-0001-5907-3827, State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture Zhejiang A&F University Hangzhou China), Meththika Vithanage (0000-0003-2923-4065, Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences University of Sri Jayewardenepura Nugegoda Sri Lanka), Xiao Yang (0009-0009-6059-6081, Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China), Sang‐Ryong Lee (0000-0002-8672-301X, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, College of Life Science and Biotechnology Dongguk University Seoul Republic of Korea), Michael S Bank (0000-0001-5194-7171, Institute of Marine Research Bergen Norway), Siming You (0000-0003-2175-7291, James Watt School of Engineering University of Glasgow Glasgow UK), Yong Sik Ok (0000-0003-3401-0912, Korea Biochar Research Center, Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Sustainable Waste Management Program & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering Korea University Seoul Republic of Korea, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume35
Issue5
Pages1629-1643
Publication date2024-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLand Degradation and Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1085-3278 • E-ISSN: 1099-145X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ldr.5026
OpenAlexW4391445939
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited135

Microplastic (MP) pollution is an important environmental problem owing to its widespread use, long residence time, and overall persistence. MPs threaten the health of humans, animals, and plants. However, studies on the effects of MPs on terrestrial plants are less common compared to those conducted in aquatic systems. This review discusses the sources of MPs in terrestrial ecosystems, their effects on C and N cycling in soils, and the impact of MPs on terrestrial plants, and focuses on plant growth and the potential risks to human health. MPs affect plants and their performance by altering soil structure, microbial activity, nutrient immobilization, transporting contaminants, and causing direct toxicity. Chemicals, such as plasticizers, additives, and colorants, in MPs may negatively affect ecosystems and their inhabitants, and MPs may interact with a wide array of pollutants, including pesticides, heavy metals, and antibiotics. These impacts vary as a function of soil type, plant species, and MP type. Future research efforts should focus on interaction complexity, uptake mechanisms, and impacts on plants at multiple spatiotemporal scales, while concurrently considering their effects on food chains and human health

Biology · Ecosystem · Environmental resource management · Microplastics · Terrestrial ecosystem · Terrestrial plant · biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties · Environmental Science · Microplastics and Plastic Pollution · Ecology

  • Soil Health Under Global Change and Human Impact

    Open Access•Nataliya Bilyera, Benjamin L Turner et al.•Land Degradation and Development•2025

  • (Micro)plastic Pollution in Chinese Erosion Control Engineering

    Open Access•Haoxin Hao, 郝好鑫 郝好鑫 et al.•Land Degradation and Development•2026

  • Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made

    Open Access•Roland Geyer, Jenna Jambeck et al.•Science Advances•2017

  • The M icrobial E fficiency‐ M atrix S tabilization ( Mems ) framework integrates plant litter decomposition with soil organic matter stabilization

    Open Access•M Francesca Cotrufo, Matthew D Wallenstein et al.•Global Change Biology•2013

  • Effective uptake of submicrometre plastics by crop plants via a crack-entry mode

    Open Access•Lianzhen Li, Yongming Luo et al.•Nature Sustainability•2020

  • The geological cycle of plastics and their use as a stratigraphic indicator of the Anthropocene

    Open Access•J Zalasiewicz, Colin N Waters et al.•Anthropocene•2016

Unique citing works2
Citations per year2
Citation span2025 - 2026 (2)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 2

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