By Abdullahi lukman
A new study reveals that soil used for agriculture can hold up to 23 times more microplastics than ocean waters, raising serious environmental and health concerns.
Published in Environmental Sciences Europe, the research investigates the sources, impacts, and risks of microplastics and nanoplastics in soil and crops.
The study identifies multiple plastic pollution sources affecting farmland, including runoff, atmospheric deposition, plastic mulch films, silage wrappings, farm equipment, pesticide containers, and sewage sludge fertilizers.
Among these, plastic mulch film is the largest contributor despite its short-term benefits in boosting crop yields.
Lead author Joseph Boctor, a Ph.D. candidate, describes this phenomenon as turning food-producing soils into “plastic sinks.”
The research shows microplastics do not remain confined to soil; they can spread through the environment or be absorbed by plants via their roots, potentially entering the food chain.
Previous studies cited confirm microplastics’ presence in fruits like apples and pears, as well as in seafood and dairy products.
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More worryingly, recent evidence suggests ingested microplastics may migrate from the gut to organs including the brain, intensifying concerns about human exposure.
The study also highlights the harmful effects of microplastics on soil health and plant growth. Plastic pollutants disrupt soil microbial diversity, alter nutrient and pH balances, and impair plants’ photosynthesis and water uptake, leading to weaker and less nutritious crops.
Even plastics marketed as safer alternatives, such as BPA-free materials, may still pose risks by releasing other harmful chemicals like BPF and BPS, which exhibit endocrine-disrupting effects.
These substances have been detected in common crops including wheat, lettuce, and carrots.
Researchers caution about the growing use of plastic additives, many of which remain unregulated in agriculture despite over 10,000 chemicals potentially contaminating soils.
Boctor warns this regulatory gap allows the plastic pollution crisis to continue unchecked, threatening human health.
While urging more research and stronger regulations on microplastics and their additives, the scientists are also developing eco-friendly alternatives.
The Bioplastics Innovation Hub in Australia is working on a “Smart Sprays Project” aimed at replacing plastic mulch films with non-toxic, water-retaining barriers that do not shed harmful microplastics.
This study underscores the urgent need to address plastic pollution in agriculture to protect ecosystems, food safety, and public health worldwide.
