Microplastic (MP) contamination in soils has raised

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the abstract and stated research gap and future-work section and limitations section of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2024 and 2026, spanning 6 journals. Those papers have been cited 325 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 8 representative gaps

• Soil Matrix Modulates Polystyrene Microplastic Toxicity to Eisenia fetida: From Acute Lethality to Oxidative Genotoxicity (2026) · Current Issues in Molecular Biology · doi

  Microplastic (MP) contamination in soils has raised widespread concern, yet the extent to which soil matrices regulate MP toxicity remains insufficiently characterized.

  generalabstractevidence 5/5
  Keywords: microplastic contamination soils raised widespread concern extent soil matrices regulate toxicity remains insufficiently characterized
• HIDDEN POLLUTION IN IRRIGATION SYSTEMS: MICROPLASTICS IN SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER OF THE PAZHAYAR RIVER BASIN, SOUTH INDIA (2026) · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · doi

  The study identifies a gap in understanding the fate, transport, and biological impacts of microplastics in water resources. The research highlights the need for more studies on microplastic pollution in tropical and monsoon-prone regions.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: study identifies gap understanding fate transport biological impacts
• Soil viral–host interactions regulate microplastic-dependent carbon storage (2024) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · cited 74× · doi

  Microplastic is globally regarded as an important factor impacting biogeochemical cycles, yet our understanding of such influences is limited by the uncertainties of intricate microbial processes.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: microplastic globally regarded important factor impacting biogeochemical cycles understanding influences limited uncertainties intricate microbial processes
• 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
• Interactions among Heavy Metals, Microplastics and Pesticides in Soil and Advances in Microbial Remediation (2026) · Journal of Innovation and Development · doi

  Further research is needed to develop effective and sustainable remediation approaches for composite pollution. Studies should investigate the effects of microplastics on pesticide bioavailability and toxicity. Research should focus on optimizing interactions among different functional microorganisms for microbial remediation.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 4/5
  Keywords: further research needed develop effective sustainable remediation approaches
• Interactions among Heavy Metals, Microplastics and Pesticides in Soil and Advances in Microbial Remediation (2026) · Journal of Innovation and Development · doi

  The underlying mechanisms governing the interactions among heavy metals, microplastics, and pesticides remain poorly understood. Research on microbial remediation of heavy metal-microplastic-pesticide composite pollution is still in its early stages. Maintaining microbial stability under complex environmental conditions is a key challenge.

  generallimitations sectionevidence 4/5
  Keywords: underlying mechanisms governing interactions among heavy metals microplastics
• Microbial metabolism influences microplastic perturbation of dissolved organic matter in agricultural soils (2024) · The ISME Journal · cited 107× · doi

  Further research is needed to investigate the effects of microplastic pollution on agricultural soils. Further research is needed to examine the microbial transformation of dissolved organic matter released by microplastics. Further research is needed to develop strategies for managing microplastic pollution in agricultural soils.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 4/5
  Keywords: further research needed investigate effects microplastic pollution agricultural
• Microbial metabolism influences microplastic perturbation of dissolved organic matter in agricultural soils (2024) · The ISME Journal · cited 107× · doi

  The fate and composition of dissolved organic matter released from microplastics is not well understood. The effects of microplastic pollution on dissolved organic matter in agricultural soils are not well understood. The study aims to address this knowledge gap.

  generalstated research gapevidence 3/5
  Keywords: fate composition dissolved organic matter released microplastics well

Questions about this gap