Beyond Chemistry and Biology: Microplastics as Emerging Structural Agents in Soil

M icroplastics are rapidly expanding in spatial distribution and accumulating in quantity within global soil ecosystems. 1,2This trend reveals a fundamental fact.Microplastics have progressively become a significant anthropogenic component of soil matrices, extending from intensively managed agricultural landscapes to remote natural environments.In light of this situation, the growing academic interest in evaluating microplastic-mediated impacts on soil health is understandable.However, existing research has predominantly concentrated on the transport and aging dynamics of microplastics, their influence on biogeochemical cycles, and their effects on soil biota. 3,4In reality, the concept of soil health extends beyond chemical and biological attributes.A crucial yet frequently overlooked aspect is the physical structure of soil, including pore networks, aggregate stability, and mechanical strength.This constitutes a prerequisite for the activity and survival of soil fauna, microorganisms, and plant root systems, while also serving as a core foundation for resisting erosion and shear failure.It ensures soil stability in contexts like landfills, mine reclamation, and construction sites.The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations explicitly identifies the stability and integrity of soil physical structure as a key dimension of soil health. 5Physical structure directly governs essential soil functions such as water infiltration, gas exchange, and erosion resistance, thereby shaping both ecosystem and engineering services.Nevertheless, significant knowledge gaps regarding how microplastics affect the structural integrity and stability of soil remain.