Assessment of Microplastics Pollution on Soil Health and Eco-toxicological Risk in Horticulture
Umesh Sharma,
Sunny Sharma,
Vishal Singh Rana,
Neerja Rana,
Vijay Kumar,
Shilpa Sharma,
Humaira Qadri,
Vineet Kumar,
Sartaj Ahmad Bhat
Affiliations
Umesh Sharma
Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources, College of Forestry, Dr. YSP University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni 173230, Himachal Pradesh, India
Sunny Sharma
Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, Punjab, India
Vishal Singh Rana
Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Dr. YSP University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni 173230, Himachal Pradesh, India
Neerja Rana
Department of Basic Sciences, College of Forestry, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni 173230, Himachal Pradesh, India
Vijay Kumar
Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Dr. YSP University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni 173230, Himachal Pradesh, India
Shilpa Sharma
Department of Basic Sciences, College of Forestry, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni 173230, Himachal Pradesh, India
Humaira Qadri
Department of Environmental Sciences, J&K Higher Education Department, Govt. Degree College, Baramulla 193101, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Vineet Kumar
Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Engineering and Sciences, GD Goenka University, Sohna Road, Gurugram 122103, Haryana, India
Sartaj Ahmad Bhat
River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
In recent times, the existence of microplastics in the food chain has emerged as a physiological stressor and a multifactorial food safety issue, necessitating an immediate strategic perspective due to the associated human health and eco-toxicological risks. To the best of our knowledge, edible fruit crop facts have not yet been compiled, despite their presence in various food webs. Due to the risks associated with the public’s health when consuming products (e.g., fruit crops) that contain a high concentration of microplastic pollutants, a strategic approach to the emerging issue is essential. In this review, we discussed the possible sources of microplastics and their effect on horticultural crops, soil, and microorganisms; the techniques used to know the constitution of microplastics; the eco-toxicity of microplastics and their derivatives on horticultural crops; and suggested mitigation measures and public policies on control alternatives. This research aims to help environmentalists, biotechnologists, and policymakers understand the mechanism and dynamics of microplastics in soils and edible parts so that potential risks can be mitigated in advance.
