Over the last few decades, different types of plastics have been found in different soil types with documented or potential negative effects on the environment, the flora and fauna inhabiting the soils, and subsequently human health. This article is a global review of the consequences of the interactions of plastics with soil, plants, soil microbes, and organic or inorganic pollutants depending on land use. It focuses on the various types of polyethylene, a widely used material with a strong presence in both agricultural and urban soils. Although the chemical formula (C₂H₄)_n remains the same in its various classifications, the chemical behavior of polyethylene in soil varies and directly depends on its density, branching, crystallinity, and relative molecular mass, resulting in many and various differences in the properties but also in the behavior of the two main forms of polyethylene, low and high density. However, beyond the chemical composition of plastics, the climatic conditions that apply in both urban and rural areas determine the degree of corrosion as well as their shape and size, also affecting the chemical reactions that directly or indirectly affect them. In agricultural soils, plants and the microbiome present mainly in the rhizosphere seem to dramatically influence the behavior of plastics, where the interaction of all these parameters leads to changes in the availability of nutrients (phosphorus and potassium), the percentage of organic matter and the nitrogen cycle. In urban soils, the increase in temperature and decrease in humidity are the main parameters that determine the adsorption of heavy metals and organic pollutants on the surface of plastics. Although the presence of plastics is considered inevitable, perhaps a more thorough study of them will lead to a reduction in the risks of pollution in urban and rural environments. This research provides a promising perspective on the potential contribution of MP PEs to the sustainable management of soil systems.

The increasing presence of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial ecosystems, particularly when combined with organic pollutants and heavy metals, presents a considerable environmental challenge. This review examines the intricate interactions between MPs, co-contaminants (both organic and inorganic), and plants involved in phytoremediation processes. A literature search was performed across the databases Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, covering the timeframe from 2015 to 2025. The studies selected specifically addressed the synergistic and antagonistic effects of microplastics in conjunction with heavy metals or organic pollutants (such as PAHs and pesticides) within plant–soil systems. The findings reveal that MPs influence pollutant mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity through adsorption and desorption mechanisms, leading to varied implications for plant growth, microbial communities, and contaminant uptake. Depending on the physicochemical characteristics of MPs and co-pollutants, the effects can range from increased phytotoxicity to diminished contaminant accumulation in plants. Additionally, physiological and molecular disruptions, including oxidative stress, hormonal imbalances, and impaired enzymatic activity, were frequently noted in co-contamination scenarios. Recent developments, such as the creation of genetically modified hyperaccumulator plants and the use of nanotechnology and microbial consortia, demonstrate potential to enhance phytoremediation efficiency in complex polluted soils. This review underscores the pressing need for integrated, multidisciplinary strategies to overcome the limitations of existing phytoremediation methods in co-contaminated environments. Future research should focus on standardized methodologies, a mechanistic understanding, and the safe implementation of emerging biotechnologies for sustainable soil remediation.

Floods and wildfires are two extreme environmental events with significant yet different impacts on soil health and on two particularly important soil pollutants, heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are directly associated with ishytoxic properties and their ability to enter the food chain. The present study includes a methodological approach that was based on a literature review of published studies conducted worldwide regarding these two phenomena. The main forms of both pollutants, their possible sources and inevitable deposition onto the soil surface, along with their behavior–transport–mobility, and their residence time in soil were investigated. Furthermore, the changes that both HMs and PAHs induce in the physicochemical properties of post-flood and post-fire soils (in soil pH, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), organic matter content, porosity, mineralogical alterations, etc.), are investigated after a literature review of various case studies. Wildfires, in contrast to floods, can more easily remove large quantities of heavy metals into the soil ecosystem, most likely due to the intense erosion they cause. At the same time, floods appear to significantly burden soils with PAHs. In wildfires, the largest mean increases were observed for Mn (386%), Zn (300%), and Cu (202%). In floods, Pb showed the highest mean increase (534%), with Cd also rising substantially (236%). Regarding total PAHs, mean post-event concentrations reached 482.3 μg/kg after wildfires, compared to 4384 μg/kg after floods. Changes in the structure and chemical composition of flooded and burned soils may also affect the mobility and bioavailability of the pollutants under study. Overall, these two phenomena significantly alter soil quality, affecting both ecological processes and potential health impacts.

The presence of plastics in the soil environment is an undeniable global reality. Biodegradable plastics (BPs) possess several key properties that make them more environmentally sustainable compared to other categories of plastics. However, their presence induces significant changes in soil systems health where they are found, due to a combination of environmental, soil, and climatic factors, as well as the simultaneous presence of other pollutants, both inorganic and organic. In the present work, a review has been conducted on published research findings regarding the impact of various types of BPs on the parameters that regulate and determine soil health. In particular, the study examined the effects of BPs on physical, chemical, and biological indices of soil quality, leading to several important conclusions. It was observed that silty and loamy soils were significantly affected, as their physical properties were altered. Moreover, significant changes in both chemical and microbiological indicators were observed with increasing environmental temperatures. The presence of all types of biodegradable microplastics led to a significant reduction in soil nitrogen content as temperature increased. This study highlights the profound effects of the climate crisis on the properties of soils already contaminated with plastics, as the effects of rising temperatures on soil properties appear to be amplified in the presence of plastics. On the other hand, higher temperatures also trigger a series of chemical reactions that accelerate the degradation of BPs, thereby reducing their volume and mass in the soil environment. These processes lead to increased emissions of gases and higher ambient temperatures, leading to global warming. The types and quantities of plastics present, along with the environmental changes in a study area, are critical factors that must be taken into account by policymakers in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change on soil health and productivity.

The rise in the presence and identification of biorefractory pollutants, also known as emerging contaminants (ECs) like microplastics, in the environment has been notable in recent times, attributed to factors such as population growth, changes in lifestyle, and rapid industrialization. A variety of pollutant substances are necessitated suitable remediation. Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) represent sustainable technologies that can be utilized. In the current bibliometric investigation, the connection between bioelectrochemistry and pollutants in the environment is examined. Data obtained from the Web of Science database were utilized for the bibliometric analysis employing VOSviewer and R. According to the results, a highly integrated and rapidly maturing research landscape, characterized by a clear transition from fundamental technological development to large-scale environmental applications. The study serves as the essential bridge between the two primary pillars of the field: sustainable energy recovery and environmental remediation. The keyword co-occurrence networks illustrate a sophisticated synergy where the oxidative biodegradation of organic pollutants is directly coupled with electricity generation. A key discovery is the inherent synergy between the biodegradation of pollutants and the generation of electricity, which characterizes the contemporary ‘waste-to-energy’ model.