Impact of Microplastic Pollution on Soil and Groundwater Environment
A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Water".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2025 | Viewed by 223
Special Issue Editors
Interests: emerging contaminants; environmental behaviour; environmental analytical chemistry; risk assessment; bioremediation; soil and water pollution
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: soil health; pollution remediation; degradable plastic film; microplastics; plant protection; prevention and control of plastic film pollution
Interests: sustainable agriculture; soil health; crop rotation systems; water use efficiency; agroecology; climate-resilient farming; prevention and control of plastic film pollution
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Microplastic pollution has become an environmental issue of global concern. However, current research mainly focuses on the marine environment, and studies on terrestrial and subsurface environments, particularly soil and groundwater systems, are still in their infancy. Recent research suggests that microplastics are pervasive in agricultural soils, urban areas, and even remote regions, originating from sources such as plastic mulching, wastewater irrigation, and atmospheric deposition. Despite growing evidence of their presence, the mechanisms governing microplastic transport, retention, and degradation in soil and groundwater remain poorly understood. Furthermore, the ecological and toxicological effects of microplastics on soil organisms, plant health, and groundwater ecosystems are yet to be fully elucidated.
This Special Issue aims to explore the multifaceted impacts of microplastic pollution on soil and groundwater environments, addressing a critical gap in our understanding of the long-term ecological and environmental impact of microplastic contamination. This Special Issue primarily aims to investigate the sources, distribution, behavior, and fate of microplastics in soil and groundwater systems. We seek to understand how microplastics interact with soil biota, alter soil physicochemical properties, and influence the quality of groundwater. Additionally, this Special Issue will explore the potential risks posed by microplastics to ecosystems, human health, and agricultural productivity. We provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge, identify key research gaps, and propose mitigation strategies to address this emerging environmental challenge.
Through this Special Issue, we hope to contribute to the development of sustainable solutions for environmental protection and resource management.
Prof. Dr. Qing Luo
Dr. Ning Yang
Dr. Liangshan Feng
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- microplastics
- soil pollution
- groundwater contamination
- environmental impact
- ecotoxicology
- plastic degradation
- soil–groundwater interaction
- pollution mitigation
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
