Microplastics in Agricultural Soils: A Growing Concern

A recent study from Murdoch University has revealed that agricultural soils contain approximately 23 times more microplastics than oceans. These microplastics, often exposed to 10,000 unregulated chemical additives, can contaminate food crops like lettuce, wheat, and carrots. The findings are particularly alarming, as microplastics have been detected in human organs, including the lungs, brain, heart, blood, and placenta.

Key Concerns:

• Microplastics in soil can leach into food crops and human bodies.
• Chemical additives in plastics, such as BPA, BPF, and BPS, can cause endocrine disruption and other health issues.
• Regulations are slower to adapt to the plastic crisis, while industry is moving faster.
• Assessing the toxicity of plastic additives is often overlooked due to a lack of transparency in the plastic industry.

Call to Action:

Researchers are working to develop biodegradable plastics that decompose in soil, land, and water, leaving behind no legacy. A non-toxic, bioplastic-based spray for soil is currently under development, with the goal of introducing a green plastic to the market that minimizes the need for non-sustainable plastic production worldwide.

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-microplastics-silently-soil-salad-humans.html