Food safety risks from soil-borne microplastics and antibiotic resistance across vegetable production and consumption pathways

Microplastics (MPs) increasingly infiltrate agricultural systems through plastic mulch degradation, wastewater irrigation, atmospheric fallout, and organic amendments. Once in soil, MPs interact with plant–soil interfaces: smaller particles adhere to root surfaces and translocate through apoplastic and symplastic pathways, while oversized microplastics (OMPs), in organic fertilizers represent a disproportionate fraction of total MPs mass and have been shown to impair crop growth by disrupting rhizosphere function and nutrient allocation. Physically alter soil porosity and root development. MPs also function as vectors for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) such as blaTEM, which adhere to polymer surfaces, migrate into plant tissues, and persist during digestion, raising concerns for food safety. However, inconsistencies in micro-particle isolation and characterization hinder process-based risk assessment. This review emphasizes the mechanistic pathways of MP entry, uptake, and biological interaction in agroecosystems, and highlights the urgent need for standardized detection protocols and food-grade thresholds to protect human health.