Microplastics and Heavy Metals in Agroecosystems: Interactions, Toxicity, and Crop Responses

Dear Colleagues,

Microplastics and heavy metals have long been a threat to agricultural ecosystems. Microplastics come from plastic residues, sludge, and irrigation, affecting soil structure and microbial communities, while heavy metals accumulate through industrial emissions, fertilizers, and wastewater, and are subsequently absorbed by crops and enter the food chain. Their interactions, including adsorption, complexation, and carrier effects, alter toxicity and bioavailability and influence crop responses in ways that cannot be captured by single-pollutant studies; however, the specific effects vary depending on the types of microplastics, heavy metals, and plants involved. Understanding these interactions is therefore critical for soil health, food safety, and sustainable agriculture.

In this Special Issue, we aim to facilitate academic exchange on the mechanisms, pathways, and impacts of microplastic–heavy metal interactions, as well as the physiological and agronomic responses of plants to such combined exposure.

Dr. Chaorui Yan
Dr. Yingjie Wu
Guest Editors

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