EU study finds microplastics widespread in European farm soils, acting as 'Trojan horse' for toxins
Five-year research project detects plastic contamination in all 227 agricultural fields tested across 11 countries, with evidence of amplified antibiotic resistance.
What to know
- Microplastics detected in soil of all 227 agricultural fields tested across 11 European countries in five-year EU-funded study, confirming global soil contamination threat.
- Microplastics create hotspots on their surfaces ('plastisphere') where they interact with agrochemicals, microbes, and bacteria—amplifying antibiotic resistance and toxin transport.
- Combined stressors (microplastics + pesticides + drought) produce worse outcomes than individual stressors alone, requiring policy to address plastic pollution as part of broader soil degradation.
- Even biodegradable plastics fragment into microplastics that are practically impossible to remove from soil and continue acting as vectors for contaminants.
“An increase of antibiotic-resistant genes was found within plastispheres when compared with controls. Pesticides appeared to amplify this effect further.”
Minagris research project, EU-funded multinational study · The Guardian ↗ · Sep 15
Edoardo Puglisi Professor of microbiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, PiacenzaDr Esperanza Huerta Lwanga Research associate in soil physics, Wageningen UniversityMinagris research project EU-funded five-year multinational studyUniversity of Gloucestershire Countryside and Community Research Institute Collaboration partner in Minagris project
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Researchers warn biodegradable plastics not automatically safer, can still fragment into microplastics
Despite increased use of biodegradable plastics to reduce pollution, the project found they are not automatically safer and can still degrade into microplastics, potentially causing ecological damage. Researchers emphasize that microplastics, once fragmented into soil, are practically impossible to remove.
“Once these plastics fragment into the ground, they're practically impossible to remove, acting as vectors for agrochemicals and altering critical soil ecosystems.”
— Dr Esperanza Huerta Lwanga -
first by The Guardian, 7d ago · also Mother Jones, Yale E360, Guardian Environment, Guardian Science, Guardian
2 more headlines
- Microplastics in Soil Act Like a Tiny “Trojan Horse” for Delivering Toxins Mother Jones · 6d ago
- Microplastics in Soil a ‘Trojan Horse’ for Toxins Yale E360 · 5d ago
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Microplastics act like a “Trojan horse” for pollutants, pesticides, and bacteria in soil, researchers have found. via @theguardian.com
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Microplastics act like a “Trojan horse,” delivering pollutants, pesticides, and bacteria through the soil, a five-year multinational research project has found.
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background
Study shows microplastics impair plant growth and amplify drought stress — The Minagris project found that higher concentrations of microplastics reduced leaf area, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, and plant biomass in lettuce. When combined with drought conditions, these effects became more pronounced, with plants performing worse than under either stress alone.
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background
Research identifies plastisphere as hotspot for antibiotic resistance and toxin interaction — The study found that microplastics create microbial habitats on their surfaces called the plastisphere, where plastic, microbes, and agrochemicals interact. An increase of antibiotic-resistant genes was found within plastispheres compared to controls, with pesticides amplifying this effect further.
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background
EU study reveals microplastics in all tested European agricultural soils — A five-year multinational EU-funded research project, including 22 peer-reviewed studies, found microplastics contaminating soil in all 227 agricultural fields tested across 11 European countries. Researchers determined this poses a global threat, with contamination reflecting both current farming practices and historical land use.