Microplastics and Their Effects on Soil Function as a Life-Supporting System
Particles play important roles in terrestrial systems, where the natural soil environment provides a complex habitat in which the three-dimensional organization of mineral and organic matter is combined to a diverse array of water levels, microscopic life
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Contents 1 Introduction 2 The Evidence for Impacts of Microplastics on the Soil Environment 2.1 Microbes and Microplastics in Soil 2.2 Plants and Microplastics in Soil 2.3 Animals and Microplastics in Soil 3 Factors Accounting for the Observed Effects of Microplastics on Soil and Terrestrial Organisms 3.1 Microplastic Particle Size and Shape 3.2 Microplastic Particle Chemistry 3.3 The Properties of the Soil System 4 Final Considerations and Future Directions References
Abstract Particles play important roles in terrestrial systems, where the natural soil environment provides a complex habitat in which the three-dimensional organization of mineral and organic matter is combined to a diverse array of water levels, microscopic life forms, and their metabolites. Soils are the foundation for most landbased life and terrestrial ecosystem services that benefit humans. When plastics
All responsibility for the content of this chapter is taken by the authors. A. A. de Souza Machado (*) and T. Davis Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany e-mail: [email protected] A. A. Horton National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK S. Maaß University of Potsdam, Institut für Biochemie und Biologie, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Potsdam, Germany Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany Defu He and Yongming Luo (eds.), Microplastics in Terrestrial Environments - Emerging Contaminants and Major Challenges, Hdb Env Chem, DOI 10.1007/698_2020_450, © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. A. de Souza Machado et al.
arrive at the soil, their nonnatural structure, distinct chemical composition, and unique surface properties trigger a series of abrupt environmental changes in the soil. Indeed, the current evidence suggests changes in the fundamental physical, chemical, and microbiological properties of the soils. Consequently, water and other biogeochemical cycles, as well as plant performance and animal health, can be affected. In this chapter, we present the recent advances in understanding how microplastics can change elementary properties of soil systems, such as soil aggregation and structure. This is discussed jointly with the linked effects in the microbial activity and function. Then, we address the recent studies regarding the effects of micro- and nanoplastics on plants and animals. Finally, we elaborate the properties of the various types of microplastics, soil processes, and soil organisms that are probably influencing the observed effects. We conclude by highlighting that current scientific information is not enough to devise solid risk assessments on microplastics in soils and suggest research directions to fulfill this gap. Keywords Biogeochemistry, Environmental change, Microbiome, Plants, Soil fauna
1 Introduction Natural particles play important roles in terrestrial systems [1]. The very complex interaction of these particles with water, air, and natural biogeochemical cycles is what makes possible the provision of many environmen
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