Microplastics in soil pose global threat by acting like ‘Trojan horse’ to deliver toxins
A five-year EU-funded study found microplastics in agricultural fields across 11 European countries, revealing that these particles act as a 'Trojan horse' for toxins. The research highlights how microplastics create 'plastispheres' that harbor antibiotic-resistant genes and harmful chemicals.
Why it matters
The accumulation of microplastics in soil poses a long-term threat to food safety and ecosystem health, complicating modern agricultural practices.
Researchers found traces of microplastics in 227 agricultural fields across 11 European countries. Researchers found traces of microplastics in 227 agricultural fields across 11 European countries. Plastics Microplastics in soil pose global threat by acting like ‘Trojan horse’ to deliver toxins Exclusive: Plastic surfaces form hotspots with an increase of antibiotic-resistant genes, study finds
Prefer the Guardian on Google Microplastics act like a “Trojan horse” delivering pollutants, pesticides and bacteria through the soil, a five-year multinational research project has found.
The EU-funded project, which has so far resulted in 22 peer-reviewed studies , found microplastics in the soil of all 227 agricultural fields it tested across 11 European countries. The researchers said this poses a global threat , with healthy soils essential for life on Earth.
In many cases, this contamination reflected current farming practices as well as historical land use, demonstrating that plastic pollution can persist for many years.
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