Cited by 341Microplastics and Plastic PollutionPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impactsbiodegradable polymer synthesis and properties

A review on the occurrence and influence of biodegradable microplastics in soil ecosystems: Are biodegradable plastics substitute or threat?

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Fan, Ping, Yu, Hong, Xi, Beidou, Tan, Wenbing·2022·Environment International

Abstract

Plastic products are widely used around the world, but waste plastic is not reasonably managed and causes serious plastic pollution. Biodegradable plastics (BPs) provide an alternative to conventional plastics, but not all BPs can be completely degraded under natural conditions. Instead, they may break down into microplastics (MPs) faster than conventional plastics, posing an additional threat to soil environment. In this paper, the definition, applications, and degradation behaviors of BPs, including biodegradable microplastics (BMPs), are reviewed, and we comprehensively summarized the eco-toxicological effects of BMPs in soil ecosystems, in terms of physical and chemical properties of soil, soil nutrient cycling, soil bacterial and fungal communities, soil flora and fauna. The compound effects of BMPs and other pollutants were also addressed. The results revealed that BMPs made different or more severely effects compared to conventional MPs. Overall, this review aims to address gaps in knowledge, shed light on the ecological effects of BPs and BMPs in soil. BPs are not a perfect substitute to solve plastic pollution, and further exploration should focus on their generation, environmental behavior, ecological impact and whether BMPs cause more harm than conventional MPs.

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Authors
Fan, P., Yu, H., Xi, B., & Tan, W.
Affiliations
  • Nanchang University (CN)
  • Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Yu, Hong
  • Xi, Beidou
Venue
Environment International
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-05
Volume
163
Pages
107244
ISSN
0160-4120 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4223645225
Cited by
341
References
103
Citations by year
2026: 68 · 2025: 95 · 2024: 107 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 18
FWCI
3.91
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 (41977030)
  • Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (2020YFC1909502)
  • National Key Research and Development Program of China
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
Keywords
biodegradable plastics, biodegradable microplastics, soil microplastics, plastic pollution, biodegradation, ecotoxicology, soil microbial communities, soil nutrient cycling, soil organisms, combined pollutant effects
MeSH terms
Microplastics, Environmental Pollution, Plastics, Soil, Ecosystem, Biodegradable Plastics

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