Cited by 1,211Microplastics and Plastic PollutionPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

Source, migration and toxicology of microplastics in soil

Open access
Guo, Jing-Jie, Huang, Xian-Pei, Xiang, Lei, Wang, Yi-Ze, Li, Yan-Wen, Li, Hui, Cai, Quan-Ying, Mo, Ce-Hui +1 more·2020·Environment International

Abstract

Microplastics are emerging contaminants and their presence in water and soil ecosystems has recently drawn considerable attention because they pose a great threat to entire ecosystems. Recent researches have focused on the detection, occurrence, characterization, and toxicology of microplastics in marine and freshwater ecosystems; however, our understanding of the ecological effects of microplastics in soil ecosystems is still limited compared with that in aquatic ecosystems. Here, we have compiled literature, studying the sources, migration of microplastics in soil, negative impacts on soil health and function, trophic transfer in food chains, and the corresponding adverse effects on soil organisms in order to address the potential ecological and human health risks caused by microplastics in soil. This review aims to address gaps in knowledge, shed light on the ecological effects of microplastics in soil, and propose future studies on microplastic pollution and the resultant soil ecotoxicity. Furthermore, this review is focused on limiting microplastics in soil and establishing management and remediation measures to mitigate the risks posed by microplastic pollution.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105263

Cites

209 of 209 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Evidence is lacking as to whether plastic additives, specifically phthalates, impact the quantity of MPs ingested, retained, depurated or transferred up trophic levels.

    “While plastic additive contamination within the tissues of marine organisms has been correlated to MP ingestion (Guo et al., 2020), evidence is lacking as to whether plastic additives, specifically phthalates, impact the quantity of MPs ingested, retained, depurated or transferred up trophic levels (Miller et al., 2020).”

    From Trophic transfer of polyester microfibres across a multi-level marine food web. (2025) · cites this paper as Guo et al., 2020

    Guo et al. is cited for the correlation between plastic additives in marine-organism tissues and microplastic ingestion; the separate claim about lacking evidence is attributed to Miller et al. The sections on soil contamination (4.1.4) and soil animals (4.2.2) discuss additives and ingestion, but the passages found do not report that correlation in marine organisms. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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1 retracted

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Nizzetto, L., Bussi, G., Futter, M.N., Butterfield, D., Whitehead, P.G., 2016c. A theoretical assessment of microplastic transport in river catchments and their retention by soils and river sediments. Environ. Sci. Proc. Imp. 18 (8), 1050-1059. https://doi.org/10. 1039/C6EM00206D. · DOI
  2. UNEP, 2014. UNEP Year Book 2014: Emerging issues in our global environment, pp. 50-53.
  3. Wang, Z., Li, X., Shi, H., Sun, M., Ding, T., Wang, C., 2015a. Effects of residual plastic film on soil hydrodynamic parameters and soil structure. 140. Nongye Jixie Xuebao/ Trans. Chin. Soc. Agric. Mach. 46, 101-106. https://doi.org/10.6041/j.issn.1000- 1298.2015.05.015. · DOI

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Authors
Guo, J.-J., Huang, X.-P., Xiang, L., Wang, Y.-Z., Li, Y.-W., Li, H., Cai, Q.-Y., Mo, C.-H., & Wong, M.-H.
Affiliations
Jinan University (CN)
Corresponding author
Mo, Ce-Hui
Venue
Environment International
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-04
Volume
137
Pages
105263
ISSN
0160-4120 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3007943994
Cited by
1,211
References
209
Citations by year
2026: 102 · 2025: 240 · 2024: 254 · 2023: 236 · 2022: 225 · 2021: 121 · 2020: 33
FWCI
6.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Environment International (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
Keywords
microplastics, soil contamination, microplastic sources, microplastic migration, soil ecotoxicity, soil health, trophic transfer, food chain, soil organisms, human health risk, remediation
MeSH terms
Microplastics, Environmental Monitoring, Humans, Plastics, Soil Pollutants, Ecosystem

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