Mind the gap: forest soils as a hidden hub for global micro- and nanoplastic pollution
Abstract Global plastic pollution has become a major concern because of its effects on environmental and human health. A major fraction of environmental plastics is likely stored temporarily within terrestrial soils. However, even though forests represent the third most common type of land cover on...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2023-09-01
|
| Series: | Microplastics and Nanoplastics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-023-00067-1 |
| _version_ | 1797454026780966912 |
|---|---|
| author | Collin J. Weber Matthias C. Rillig Moritz Bigalke |
| author_facet | Collin J. Weber Matthias C. Rillig Moritz Bigalke |
| author_sort | Collin J. Weber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Global plastic pollution has become a major concern because of its effects on environmental and human health. A major fraction of environmental plastics is likely stored temporarily within terrestrial soils. However, even though forests represent the third most common type of land cover on Earth, almost nothing is known about plastics in forest soils. The atmospheric transport of micro- and nanoplastics provides ample opportunity for forest canopies to intercept plastic particles. These plastic particles, together with local plastic sources like litter and items used in forest management, eventually reach forest soils. In this paper we discuss the potential role of forest soils as a hub within global plastic cycles; transport processes from the atmosphere to the soil; and the integration of plastics into forest material cycles. Taken together, plastic in forests could have a major impact on sensitive ecosystems, economically important functions and global environmental plastic budgets. We also develop a roadmap for further investigation into plastics in forest soil systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:31:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8825ac892d9a41c4b55101291b19a3ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-4966 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:31:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microplastics and Nanoplastics |
| spelling | doaj.art-8825ac892d9a41c4b55101291b19a3ce2023-11-26T12:15:10ZengSpringerOpenMicroplastics and Nanoplastics2662-49662023-09-01311910.1186/s43591-023-00067-1Mind the gap: forest soils as a hidden hub for global micro- and nanoplastic pollutionCollin J. Weber0Matthias C. Rillig1Moritz Bigalke2Soil Mineralogy and Soil Chemistry, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Technical University DarmstadtInstitute of Biology, Freie Universität BerlinSoil Mineralogy and Soil Chemistry, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Technical University DarmstadtAbstract Global plastic pollution has become a major concern because of its effects on environmental and human health. A major fraction of environmental plastics is likely stored temporarily within terrestrial soils. However, even though forests represent the third most common type of land cover on Earth, almost nothing is known about plastics in forest soils. The atmospheric transport of micro- and nanoplastics provides ample opportunity for forest canopies to intercept plastic particles. These plastic particles, together with local plastic sources like litter and items used in forest management, eventually reach forest soils. In this paper we discuss the potential role of forest soils as a hub within global plastic cycles; transport processes from the atmosphere to the soil; and the integration of plastics into forest material cycles. Taken together, plastic in forests could have a major impact on sensitive ecosystems, economically important functions and global environmental plastic budgets. We also develop a roadmap for further investigation into plastics in forest soil systems.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-023-00067-1Atmospheric transportCanopy interceptPlastic cycleTurnoverEcosystemOrganic soil |
| spellingShingle | Collin J. Weber Matthias C. Rillig Moritz Bigalke Mind the gap: forest soils as a hidden hub for global micro- and nanoplastic pollution Microplastics and Nanoplastics Atmospheric transport Canopy intercept Plastic cycle Turnover Ecosystem Organic soil |
| title | Mind the gap: forest soils as a hidden hub for global micro- and nanoplastic pollution |
| title_full | Mind the gap: forest soils as a hidden hub for global micro- and nanoplastic pollution |
| title_fullStr | Mind the gap: forest soils as a hidden hub for global micro- and nanoplastic pollution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mind the gap: forest soils as a hidden hub for global micro- and nanoplastic pollution |
| title_short | Mind the gap: forest soils as a hidden hub for global micro- and nanoplastic pollution |
| title_sort | mind the gap forest soils as a hidden hub for global micro and nanoplastic pollution |
| topic | Atmospheric transport Canopy intercept Plastic cycle Turnover Ecosystem Organic soil |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-023-00067-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT collinjweber mindthegapforestsoilsasahiddenhubforglobalmicroandnanoplasticpollution AT matthiascrillig mindthegapforestsoilsasahiddenhubforglobalmicroandnanoplasticpollution AT moritzbigalke mindthegapforestsoilsasahiddenhubforglobalmicroandnanoplasticpollution |