Sources, ecological hazards and treatment technologies of microplastics in soil

This paper is the result of environmental geological survey engineering.

Objective In recent years, ecological and environmental pollution caused by microplastics has attracted widespread interest.

Methods This paper reviews recent progress in research on the sources and hazards of microplastics and detection and treatment technologies investigated in a large number of studies.

Results (1) The primary sources of microplastics in soil are the cracking of agricultural land film without efficient recycling, use of sewage sludge containing microplastics in agricultural production activities, and settling of microplastics from air to surfaces; (2) Microplastics in soil can adsorb heavy metals, antibiotics, and other pollutants, which can change the pH, bulk density, and physical and chemical properties of soil, affect the development of earthworms and other soil animals, and reduce the activities of crucial microorganisms involved in the soil nutrient cycle, thereby harming the soil environment; (3) No unified technical standard for microplastic separation and detection is currently available. Visual inspection and spectroscopic and thermal analysis techniques are the main methods for detecting microplastics.

Conclusions Microplastics in soil prese nt varied levels of risk to the environment and health of animals and plants and threaten human health through the food chain. Future research can focus on blocking the sources of soil microplastics, the pollution mechanism of soil microplastics and heavy metal compound pollution, and innovations in soil microplastic detection technologies.