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  • es3c10247_si_001

    Accepted author manuscript, 184 KB, PDF document

    Embargo ends: 3/05/25

DOI

  • Shahid Iqbal
    Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Jianchu Xu
    Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Muhammad Saleem Arif
    Government College University Faisalabad
  • Fiona R Worthy
    Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Davey L Jones
    Environment Centre Wales
  • Sehroon Khan
    University of Science and Technology Bannu
  • Sulaiman Ali Alharbi
    King Saud University
  • Ekaterina Filimonenko
    Tyumen State University
  • Sadia Nadir
    University of Science and Technology Bannu
  • Dengpan Bu
    Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing
  • Awais Shakoor
    TEAGASC
  • Heng Gui
    Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Douglas Allen Schaefer
    Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Yakov Kuzyakov
    University of Göttingen

Microplastics threaten soil ecosystems, strongly influencing carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents. Interactions between microplastic properties and climatic and edaphic factors are poorly understood. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the interactive effects of microplastic properties (type, shape, size, and content), native soil properties (texture, pH, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC)) and climatic factors (precipitation and temperature) on C and N contents in soil. We found that low-density polyethylene reduced total nitrogen (TN) content, whereas biodegradable polylactic acid led to a decrease in soil organic carbon (SOC). Microplastic fragments especially depleted TN, reducing aggregate stability, increasing N-mineralization and leaching, and consequently increasing the soil C/N ratio. Microplastic size affected outcomes; those <200 μm reduced both TN and SOC contents. Mineralization-induced nutrient losses were greatest at microplastic contents between 1 and 2.5% of soil weight. Sandy soils suffered the highest microplastic contamination-induced nutrient depletion. Alkaline soils showed the greatest SOC depletion, suggesting high SOC degradability. In low-DOC soils, microplastic contamination caused 2-fold greater TN depletion than in soils with high DOC. Sites with high precipitation and temperature had greatest decrease in TN and SOC contents. In conclusion, there are complex interactions determining microplastic impacts on soil health. Microplastic contamination always risks soil C and N depletion, but the severity depends on microplastic characteristics, native soil properties, and climatic conditions, with potential exacerbation by greenhouse emission-induced climate change.

Keywords

  • Carbon - analysis, Climate, Microplastics, Nitrogen - analysis, Soil - chemistry, Soil Pollutants - analysis, ecosystem response, emerging pollutant, nutrient cycling, soil health, soil organic matter
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8464-8479
Number of pages16
JournalEnvironmental science & technology
Volume58
Issue number19
Early online date3 May 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 May 2024
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