Heavy Metals and Microplastics: Synergistic Threats to Agricultural Sustainability

The contemporary agricultural landscape faces an unprecedented challenge from the coexistence of heavy metals and microplastics in soil systems. This dual contamination presents synergistic threats that transcend individual pollutant impacts, creating complex interactions that compromise agricultural sustainability, food security, and human health. This comprehensive review examines the mechanisms underlying heavy metal-microplastic interactions, their collective impact on soil-plant systems, and the implications for agricultural ecosystems. Through analysis of current research, we explore the sources, fate, and transport of these contaminants, their synergistic effects on crop productivity, and emerging mitigation strategies. The evidence reveals that microplastics can enhance heavy metal bioavailability and uptake in plants, while heavy metals can alter microplastic behavior in soil environments. These interactions pose significant challenges for sustainable agriculture and require urgent attention from researchers, policymakers, and agricultural practitioners.