Microplastic interactions with terrestrial ecosystems, ecotoxicological risks and innovative degradation strategies

This review examines the environmental fate, transport, and ecotoxicological impacts of Microplastic in terrestrial ecosystems, with emphasis on soil health, nutrient cycling, and plant responses. It also addresses how emerging biotechnological and thermochemical strategies can enhance degradation efficiency and mitigate long-term ecological risks associated with persistent plastic accumulation. A structured literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed articles from soil science, environmental chemistry, and biotechnology sources. Studies were analyzed to summarize microplastic sources, degradation behavior, and transport pathways in soils, including leaching, bioturbation, wind-driven movement, and pore-scale migration. Microbial degradation mechanisms involving bacteria and fungi and enzyme-mediated breakdown were evaluated. Recent advances in enzyme engineering, protein engineering, gene editing tools, bioinformatics-guided enzyme discovery, and thermochemical methods such as pyrolysis were critically assessed for their potential in microplastic remediation. Microplastic negatively affect soil structure, porosity, and microbial activity, leading to disrupted nutrient cycling and reduced soil fertility. They impair plant growth by altering root architecture, physiological processes, and defense mechanisms, indirectly affecting ecosystem productivity. Although certain microorganisms can degrade plastics, their efficiency is too slow for environmental mitigation. Engineered enzymes and gene-edited microbial systems show improved degradation potential, while pyrolysis offers an alternative waste-to-resource pathway. However, limitations such as scalability, cost, and ecological safety restrict field application. Microplastic contamination poses a persistent threat to soil ecosystems and plant health. Integrated biotechnological and thermochemical approaches offer promising mitigation strategies. Future research should focus on scalable enzymatic systems, engineered microbes, and advanced gene-editing tools to enhance degradation efficiency and support long-term restoration of soil ecological balance. Not applicable.