The plastics in our soils

Abstract

Agricultural plastic waste is an often-overlooked issue that has a detrimental impact on our environment and puts our health at risk. The microplastics generated from agricultural practices end up in the soil, potentially entering the food chain. While the full impact of microplastics on human health is yet to be uncovered, their pervasiveness and initial indications paint a worrying picture. Understanding and addressing this problem in agriculture is therefore crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of our food sources. However, there is a lack of data on the scale of the problem. Rainer Borg and Dr Margaret Camilleri Fenech carried out a study in Malta to rectify this locally.