Volta
Underestimated and ignored? The impacts of microplastic on soil invertebrates—Current scientific knowledge and research needs
The accumulation of plastics in the environment is a major problem in the Anthropocene. As most plastic is produced, used and discarded on land, ∼4–23 times more plastics are deposited in soils than in the oceans. However, there is far too little knowledge on the ecological consequences of plastic pollution, especially for soil ecosystems. Microplastics (<5 mm), whether derived from larger plastic pieces through physical, chemical and biological degradation or produced as primary particles, is of considerable interest, as they can be ingested by organisms at the basis of the trophic net and transferred to higher trophic levels. Nonetheless, although the assessment of microplastic effects on soil invertebrates is of undeniable relevance, most studies have focussed on nano- and microplastics …