Studies on how ARGs are enriched on microplastics and how the presence of microplastics affects pathogens and ARGs

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the discussion and conclusions and stated research gap and stated challenges and abstract of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2024 and 2026, spanning 7 journals. Those papers have been cited 245 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 8 representative gaps

• Plants and microplastics: Growing impacts in the terrestrial environment (2025) · Frontiers in Plant Science · cited 27× · doi

  This is a clear gap in understanding. There is still no consensus on the type of plastics that may stimulate or inhibit plant processes and a limited understanding of how plant species and genotype can affect these responses. Plastic distribution: The majority of recent plastic quantification studies in the terrestrial environment are from China and Europe, while the concentration and identity of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems in other parts of the world are still lacking.

  generaldiscussion
  Keywords: understanding still plant plastic terrestrial clear there consensus type plastics stimulate inhibit processes limited species
• Reining in plasticulture from land to sea: Pacific Northwest (USA) perspectives on agriculture and aquaculture (2025) · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · cited 3× · doi

  In summary, although plastics have played a crucial role in enhancing the productivity and efficiency of agriculture and aquaculture, the environmental and health hazards associated with agri- and aquacultural plastic use, waste, and resultant microplastics (MPs) are not fully understood, particularly in U.

  generalconclusions
  Keywords: summary plastics played crucial role enhancing productivity ciency agriculture aquaculture environmental health hazards associated agri
• Microplastics and Antibiotic Resistance: Unraveling Environmental Pathways, Interactions, and Emerging Risks (2026) · International Journal of Environmental Research · doi

  However, studies on how ARGs are enriched on microplastics and how the presence of micro- plastics affects pathogens and ARGs in leachates and soil remain scarce despite growing interest in this area.

  generalconclusions
  Keywords: args enriched microplastics presence micro plastics affects pathogens leachates soil remain scarce despite growing interest
• Plant functional traits, but not soil abiotic properties, mediate the legacy effects of microplastics on plant community assembly (2026) · Frontiers in Plant Science · doi

  The underlying pathways governing the legacy effects of microplastics on plant community assembly are not well understood. The relative contributions of soil abiotic properties and plant functional traits in mediating microplastic legacy effects on community assembly are not well understood.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: underlying pathways governing legacy effects microplastics plant community
• Effects of different microplastics on the physicochemical properties and microbial diversity of rice rhizosphere soil (2025) · Frontiers in Microbiology · cited 40× · doi

  Microplastics are not uniformly distributed in agricultural fields, making it challenging to simulate future microplastic pollution in farmland soil. The effects of microplastics on soil properties and microbial communities are complex and not well understood. The study had to consider the environmental dispersion and risk of microplastics in the size range of 35-48 μm.

  generalstated challengesevidence 5/5
  Keywords: microplastics uniformly distributed agricultural fields making challenging simulate
• Impact of bioplastics on environment from its production to end-of-life (2024) · Process Safety and Environmental Protection · cited 138× · doi

  While numerous studies have showcased their environmental advantages, particularly in reducing global warming potential and fossil fuel usage, comprehensive reviews on the holistic environmental impacts of bioplastics throughout their life cycle are scarce.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: environmental numerous showcased advantages particularly reducing global warming potential fossil fuel usage comprehensive reviews holistic
• RETRACTED: Adverse impacts of microplastics on soil physicochemical properties and crop health in agricultural systems (2024) · Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances · cited 37× · doi

  This review not only synthesizes current knowledge but also identifies significant knowledge gaps in understanding how microplastics interact with soil properties, microbial communities, and agricultural crops.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: knowledge review synthesizes current identifies significant gaps understanding microplastics interact soil properties microbial communities agricultural
• Unveiling the impact of polystyrene nanoplastics on tea seedlings: uptake, translocation, and oxidative stress‐mediated alterations (2026) · Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture · doi

  Abstract Background The accumulation of nano‐plastics in terrestrial environments raises urgent concerns for crop safety, but little is known about their bioavailability and impact in perennial plants like tea ( Camellia sinensis L.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: abstract background accumulation nano plastics terrestrial environments raises urgent concerns crop safety little known bioavailability

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