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<p>Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a major global environmental concern due to their widespread presence across various ecosystems, including soil, water, and air systems. This review critically examines the occurrence, sources, extraction, and impacts of MPs in soil environments, with a particular focus on methodological challenges. It outlines the commonly used extraction methods, such as sieving and density separation, along with analytical techniques for chemical identification and quantification, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR; detection limits ~ 20–50&#xa0;µm), Raman spectroscopy (~ 1&#xa0;µm), and Pyrolysis–GC–MS (Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry). Despite the significant advancements in analytical approaches, challenges persist in achieving methodological standardization and minimizing interference from organic matter (OM). Variations in extraction procedures and recovery efficiencies, along with limited reporting of detection limits, further influence the reliability and comparability of results. The review also evaluates the effects of MPs on soil health, with particular emphasis on changes in physical properties such as soil aggregation, water retention, soil density, and nutrient dynamics, as well as impacts on microbial activity and overall soil fertility. MPs have been reported to promote soil aggregation while reducing aggregate stability, indicating contrasting effects on soil structure. While some studies suggest potentially beneficial effects, the overall impacts of MPs on soil systems remain uncertain and insufficiently quantified. In addition, their influence on plant growth varies widely, ranging from negative to positive effects depending on plant species and developmental stage. Potential risks to human health are also considered, including toxicity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the bioaccumulation of hazardous compounds of MPs. However, the transfer of MPs from soil to plants and subsequently to humans remains insufficiently understood and requires further quantification and validation. Notably, the majority of the recent research is laboratory-based, short-term, and has limited field-scale validation. It is to be noted that soil forms the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems and the food chain; there is an urgent need to regulate MPs contamination to protect soil organisms, plants, animals, and ultimately human health. Overall, the review assesses current mitigation strategies, including advanced separation techniques, bioremediation approaches, and improvements in waste management practices, and emphasizes the need for standardized methodologies, comprehensive research, and effective policy frameworks to address microplastic pollution in soil ecosystems.</p>

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Analytical Detection of Microplastics in Soils: A Critical Review of Methods, Ecological Impacts, Remediation Approaches, and Standardization Challenges

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月17日

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  • Anuradha Singh,
  • Prerna Singh,
  • D. Shanthana Lakshmi,
  • Sudhir K. Sharma,
  • Manoj Kumar

摘要

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a major global environmental concern due to their widespread presence across various ecosystems, including soil, water, and air systems. This review critically examines the occurrence, sources, extraction, and impacts of MPs in soil environments, with a particular focus on methodological challenges. It outlines the commonly used extraction methods, such as sieving and density separation, along with analytical techniques for chemical identification and quantification, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR; detection limits ~ 20–50 µm), Raman spectroscopy (~ 1 µm), and Pyrolysis–GC–MS (Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry). Despite the significant advancements in analytical approaches, challenges persist in achieving methodological standardization and minimizing interference from organic matter (OM). Variations in extraction procedures and recovery efficiencies, along with limited reporting of detection limits, further influence the reliability and comparability of results. The review also evaluates the effects of MPs on soil health, with particular emphasis on changes in physical properties such as soil aggregation, water retention, soil density, and nutrient dynamics, as well as impacts on microbial activity and overall soil fertility. MPs have been reported to promote soil aggregation while reducing aggregate stability, indicating contrasting effects on soil structure. While some studies suggest potentially beneficial effects, the overall impacts of MPs on soil systems remain uncertain and insufficiently quantified. In addition, their influence on plant growth varies widely, ranging from negative to positive effects depending on plant species and developmental stage. Potential risks to human health are also considered, including toxicity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the bioaccumulation of hazardous compounds of MPs. However, the transfer of MPs from soil to plants and subsequently to humans remains insufficiently understood and requires further quantification and validation. Notably, the majority of the recent research is laboratory-based, short-term, and has limited field-scale validation. It is to be noted that soil forms the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems and the food chain; there is an urgent need to regulate MPs contamination to protect soil organisms, plants, animals, and ultimately human health. Overall, the review assesses current mitigation strategies, including advanced separation techniques, bioremediation approaches, and improvements in waste management practices, and emphasizes the need for standardized methodologies, comprehensive research, and effective policy frameworks to address microplastic pollution in soil ecosystems.