Scalenghe Riccardo
Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, Università Degli Studi di Palermo, Italy.
Heliyon. 2024 Nov 30;10(23):e40647. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40647. eCollection 2024 Dec 15.
Plastics have surpassed traditional materials across numerous industries due to their versatility, durability, and cost-effectiveness. However, their persistence in ecosystems, particularly in soil, presents serious environmental challenges. This narrative review builds on previous work by analysing over 300 studies on plastics in soil, with a focus on degradation and potential reuse. Special attention is given to research published since 2019. The review classifies plastics by resin type and examines their degradation processes under various soil conditions, covering both conventional and biodegradable polymers. Polyethylene emerges as the most extensively studied polymer, while interest in biodegradable alternatives like polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) is increasing. Additionally, the review highlights advancements in microplastics research, particularly their interactions with co-contaminants and effects on soil organisms. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in standardizing methods for measuring plastic degradation in soil. The review emphasizes the need for further research to establish consistent methods and reliable indicators for degradation, while also exploring innovative recycling technologies for use in agricultural soil management. It stresses the importance of advancing a circular economy for plastics, integrating policy and practical solutions to reduce environmental impacts.
由于其多功能性、耐用性和成本效益，塑料在众多行业中已超越传统材料。然而，它们在生态系统中，尤其是在土壤中的持久性带来了严峻的环境挑战。这篇叙述性综述基于之前的工作，分析了300多项关于土壤中塑料的研究，重点关注降解和潜在再利用。特别关注了2019年以来发表的研究。该综述按树脂类型对塑料进行分类，并研究了它们在各种土壤条件下的降解过程，涵盖传统聚合物和可生物降解聚合物。聚乙烯是研究最广泛的聚合物，而对聚乳酸（PLA）和聚己二酸丁二醇酯-对苯二甲酸丁二醇酯（PBAT）等可生物降解替代品的兴趣正在增加。此外，该综述强调了微塑料研究的进展，特别是它们与共污染物的相互作用以及对土壤生物的影响。尽管取得了重大进展，但在标准化土壤中塑料降解测量方法方面仍存在挑战。该综述强调需要进一步研究，以建立一致的方法和可靠的降解指标，同时探索用于农业土壤管理的创新回收技术。它强调了推进塑料循环经济的重要性，整合政策和实际解决方案以减少环境影响。
