The Interaction Between Microplastics and Heavy Metals in Soil Ecosystems
A special issue of Pollutants (ISSN 2673-4672). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil Pollution".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 229
Special Issue Editors
Interests: heavy metal pollution and remediation; colloid fate and behavior; contaminant-facilitated transport; porous media; iron oxides, phosphorus; biochar-based remediation; microplastics; green nanoparticles
Interests: plant response to co-exposure of microplastics/nanoparticles and heavy metals/nanoparticles; phytotoxicity; plant–microbe–soil interactions; nutrient dynamics in agroecosystems; remediation and mitigation of plastic-induced toxicity; sustainable soil amendments and environmental nanotechnology applications
Interests: nanoparticles’ impact on plant–soil systems; plant responses to abiotic stress (light/heavy metals); plant resistance/tolerance to heavy metals; phytoremediation; metabolic reprogramming; plant–soil relationships
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The combined occurrence of pollutants such as microplastics and heavy metals, which have received worldwide attention due to their persistence, toxicity, and complex interactions, is a growing threat to soil ecosystems. The degradation of plastic products results in microplastics that not only accumulate in soils but also modify their physical, chemical, and biological properties. Various anthropogenic activities, including agricultural, industrial, and urban practices, have been well documented as sources of heavy metals, leading to their bioaccumulation and long-term toxicity. Emerging evidence suggests that microplastics can act as carriers and vectors for heavy metals, thereby influencing their mobility, bioavailability, and ecological risks. These interactions may exacerbate soil contamination, alter soil microbial communities, and impact the soil–plant system, ultimately threatening food safety and human health.
This Special Issue will provide a platform for advancing our understanding of the interactions between microplastics and heavy metals in soil ecosystems. We welcome contributions from experimental and field-based research, as well as innovative remediation approaches. Topics of interest for this Special Issue include the behavior and transformation of pollutants, risk assessment, soil–plant–microbe interactions, and sustainable strategies to mitigate their impacts. By integrating multidisciplinary research, this Special Issue aims to inform effective management practices and help safeguard soil health from the dual challenges of microplastics and heavy metal pollution.
Dr. Tufail Shah
Dr. Imran Azeem
Dr. Noman Shakoor
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- microplastics
- heavy metals
- toxicity
- pollutant interaction
- soil ecosystem
- remediation strategies
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