Microplastics and nanoplastics in agriculture—A potential source of soil and groundwater contamination?

Abstract

An overview of the current state of knowledge on the pollution of agricultural soils with microplastic and nanoplastic (MnP) particles is provided and the main MnP sources are discussed. MnP transport mechanisms from soil to groundwater, as well as the potential impact of MnPs on soil structure are considered, and the relevance of co-contaminants such as agrochemicals is further highlighted. We elaborate on why MnPs in soil and groundwater are understudied and how analytical capabilities are critical for furthering this crucial research area. We point out that plastic fragmentation in soils can generate secondary MnPs, and that these smaller particles potentially migrate into aquifers. The transport of MnP in soils and groundwater and their migration and fate are still poorly understood. Higher MnP concentrations in agricultural soils can influence the sorption behavior of agrochemicals onto soil grains while attachment/detachment of MnPs onto soil grains and MnP-agrochemical interactions can potentially lead to enhanced transport of both MnP particles and agrochemicals towards underlying groundwater systems.

Contaminant Trends in Urban Groundwater: Case Study from Ljubljana (Central Slovenia)

“…Numerous EOCs are frequently detected at high concentrations across Europe [63] but are not yet formally regulated by European directives, despite their potentially harmful effects on the environment and human health [64,65]. Among the emerging pollutants, microplastics have recently gained attention due to their ubiquity and persistence in the environment, especially as their occurrence, fate and transport processes in groundwater are not yet fully understood [66][67][68][69]. The main obstacle to achieving comparable results in existing reports on the significance and distribution of microplastics and other emerging pollutants in natural waters (e.g., perfluorinated compounds, benzotriazoles and certain widely used pharmaceuticals) lies primarily in the challenges of sampling and analytical methods.…”

Behavior of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Farmland Soil Environment and Mechanisms of Interaction with Plants

“…Some opinions suggest that microplastics may be subjected to physical decomposition in soil primarily in the presence of microplastics, such as UV irradiation, mechanical abrasion, and temperature changes [42]. It may also be subjected to chemical decomposition in soil, especially in the presence of oxygen, plant root secretions, or other chemicals [43]. Some microorganisms also can degrade microplastics, converting microplastic particles into smaller particles, including nanoplastics [44].…”

Synergistic impact of nanoplastics and nanopesticides on Artemia salina and toxicity analysis

“…One way is direct entry from consumer products like face cleansers, toothpaste, face creams, etc., 2 The wastewater from household drains and industries ends up in sewage treatment plants, where there is no proper treatment for MNPs, releasing them into the environment. 3 Another way is that plastics continuously deteriorate into MNPs, enabling their penetration into all environmental niches. 4 Trillions of oating MNPs exist in marine ecosystems.…”