Soil Trojan horse: tiny plastics spreading pollutants and pathogens
A five-year EU-funded study across 11 European countries finds microplastics in all 227 agricultural fields tested and in 22 peer-reviewed studies; these plastics act as Trojan horses, delivering pollutants, pesticides and microbes and forming plastispheres that may boost antibiotic-resistance genes, disrupt soil organisms, and impair plant growth, with drought exacerbating effects. Biodegradable plastics are not automatically safer, and researchers urge standardized monitoring, transparency from manufacturers, and risk assessments across species to protect long-term soil health.
