Microplastics in soil: A comprehensive review of occurrence, sources, fate, analytical techniques and potential impacts

Through their accumulation in soils, microplastics have recently become a matter of concern. The aim of this review is to assemble and investigate the recent studies about microplastics in soil by focusing on their sources, occurrence, fate in soil, and analytical methods. The objective is also to c...

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Main Authors: Khaoula En-Nejmy, Bouchra EL Hayany, Mutaz Al-Alawi, Martin Jemo, Mohamed Hafidi, Loubna El Fels
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324014088
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author Khaoula En-Nejmy
Bouchra EL Hayany
Mutaz Al-Alawi
Martin Jemo
Mohamed Hafidi
Loubna El Fels
author_facet Khaoula En-Nejmy
Bouchra EL Hayany
Mutaz Al-Alawi
Martin Jemo
Mohamed Hafidi
Loubna El Fels
author_sort Khaoula En-Nejmy
collection DOAJ
description Through their accumulation in soils, microplastics have recently become a matter of concern. The aim of this review is to assemble and investigate the recent studies about microplastics in soil by focusing on their sources, occurrence, fate in soil, and analytical methods. The objective is also to clarify and elucidate their potential impacts on soil fauna, plants and microorganisms. In this paper, articles reporting the quantity of microplastics and their characteristics in soil at 62 sites situated across 17 countries were reviewed. The land type, microplastic abundances, types and sizes were compared. We summarized and discussed the sampling and analytical methods used and the variation of microplastic concentration according to their sources. The data showed that microplastic in soil from available global studies ranged from 0 to 3573×103 particles kg−1, with major dominance of polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene found in 50, 37 and 32 studies, respectively. The data analysis showed the high migration of small particles, spherical shape with high polymer density in the major studies. We also described the mechanisms controlling the vertical transport of microplastics: agricultural activity (plowing: at a depth between 10 cm (very shallow plowing) and 40 cm (deeper soil tillage)), bioturbation by soil organisms and plants, and leaching that can lead to the contamination of the groundwater.This review elucidated the behavior and fate of microplastics within the soil, serving as a reference for upcoming studies aimed at devising solutions to mitigate the toxicity associated with microplastics in soil.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0147-6513
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
spelling doaj-art-af27e4d5d5ec4b20a9780cef3921e59d2024-12-07T08:24:24ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132024-12-01288117332Microplastics in soil: A comprehensive review of occurrence, sources, fate, analytical techniques and potential impactsKhaoula En-Nejmy0Bouchra EL Hayany1Mutaz Al-Alawi2Martin Jemo3Mohamed Hafidi4Loubna El Fels5Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment, (BioMAgE) Labeled Research Unit-CNRST N°4, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University Marrakech, MoroccoLaboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment, (BioMAgE) Labeled Research Unit-CNRST N°4, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University Marrakech, Morocco; Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques, Essaouira-Marrakech, MoroccoPrince Faisal Center for Dead Sea, Environmental and Energy Research (PFC-DSEER), Mutah University, Mutah 61710, JordanAgroBiosciences Program, College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Benguerir, MoroccoLaboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment, (BioMAgE) Labeled Research Unit-CNRST N°4, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University Marrakech, Morocco; African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Laâyoune, Morocco; Correspondence to: Cadi Ayyad University Marrakech, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Morocco.Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment, (BioMAgE) Labeled Research Unit-CNRST N°4, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University Marrakech, Morocco; Correspondence to: Cadi Ayyad University Marrakech, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Morocco.Through their accumulation in soils, microplastics have recently become a matter of concern. The aim of this review is to assemble and investigate the recent studies about microplastics in soil by focusing on their sources, occurrence, fate in soil, and analytical methods. The objective is also to clarify and elucidate their potential impacts on soil fauna, plants and microorganisms. In this paper, articles reporting the quantity of microplastics and their characteristics in soil at 62 sites situated across 17 countries were reviewed. The land type, microplastic abundances, types and sizes were compared. We summarized and discussed the sampling and analytical methods used and the variation of microplastic concentration according to their sources. The data showed that microplastic in soil from available global studies ranged from 0 to 3573×103 particles kg−1, with major dominance of polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene found in 50, 37 and 32 studies, respectively. The data analysis showed the high migration of small particles, spherical shape with high polymer density in the major studies. We also described the mechanisms controlling the vertical transport of microplastics: agricultural activity (plowing: at a depth between 10 cm (very shallow plowing) and 40 cm (deeper soil tillage)), bioturbation by soil organisms and plants, and leaching that can lead to the contamination of the groundwater.This review elucidated the behavior and fate of microplastics within the soil, serving as a reference for upcoming studies aimed at devising solutions to mitigate the toxicity associated with microplastics in soil.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324014088MicroplasticsAgricultural soilPollutionBioturbationMicroplastic biofilm
spellingShingle Khaoula En-Nejmy
Bouchra EL Hayany
Mutaz Al-Alawi
Martin Jemo
Mohamed Hafidi
Loubna El Fels
Microplastics in soil: A comprehensive review of occurrence, sources, fate, analytical techniques and potential impacts
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Microplastics
Agricultural soil
Pollution
Bioturbation
Microplastic biofilm
title Microplastics in soil: A comprehensive review of occurrence, sources, fate, analytical techniques and potential impacts
title_full Microplastics in soil: A comprehensive review of occurrence, sources, fate, analytical techniques and potential impacts
title_fullStr Microplastics in soil: A comprehensive review of occurrence, sources, fate, analytical techniques and potential impacts
title_full_unstemmed Microplastics in soil: A comprehensive review of occurrence, sources, fate, analytical techniques and potential impacts
title_short Microplastics in soil: A comprehensive review of occurrence, sources, fate, analytical techniques and potential impacts
title_sort microplastics in soil a comprehensive review of occurrence sources fate analytical techniques and potential impacts
topic Microplastics
Agricultural soil
Pollution
Bioturbation
Microplastic biofilm
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324014088
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