Engineering Solutions for the Detection and Remediation of Emerging Microplastic Pollutants in Agricultural Soils and Water Supplies: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Microplastic pollution of agricultural ecosystem is an increasing environmental crisis that has long-term impacts on soil health, water quality, food safety, and human health. This update review is a synthesis of existing information on the use of engineering solutions to detect and mitigate the effects of microplastic pollution in the soil and irrigation water bodies used in agriculture. This studyreviews the sources, distribution, and ecological effect of microplastics in agricultural systems, especially in the detection processes and remediation toolsand analyzing peer-reviewed articles that have been published in the most recent period (2015-2025). Among other methods, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), and novel AI-based strategies with up to 98.93% accuracy are the key detection methods. Some of the remediation methods include physical separation (membrane filtration with 78-99.9% removal efficiency), chemical methods (advanced oxidation processes), as well as biology (microbial degradation, phytoremediation, and enzyme-based systems). In our analysis we identify the most promising direction to be through integrated multi-barrier strategies that integrate detection, source control and remediation strategies. There are still critical gaps in knowledge related to nanoplastic detection, whether bioremediation will be effective in the long term, and analytical protocol standardization in the field. The review offers a broad guideline on how researchers, policymakers and agricultural practitioners can come up with evidence-based strategies to reduce the prevalence of microplastic contamination in agricultural systems.

Introduction

Microplastics (1 mm–5 mm) are pervasive pollutants across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments, with agricultural soils now recognized as major sinks—often containing far higher concentrations than oceans due to intensive land management and continuous plastic inputs. Widely used agricultural plastics (mulch films, greenhouse covers, irrigation pipes), along with sewage sludge, compost, wastewater irrigation, and atmospheric deposition, are key sources. In soils, microplastics alter physical structure, water retention, microbial communities, and nutrient cycling, while also acting as carriers for agrochemicals, heavy metals, and pathogens, posing environmental and human health risks.

This review systematically analyzes literature (2015–2025) to assess microplastic behavior, detection, and remediation from an engineering perspective. Common polymers in agricultural soils include PE, PP, PVC, PS, and PET, whose physicochemical properties and weathering influence transport, interactions, and remediation efficiency. Microplastics move vertically and horizontally through tillage, irrigation, runoff, bioturbation, and preferential flow, with potential to contaminate groundwater and water bodies.

Detection methods involve sample preparation (density separation, digestion), visual and microscopic techniques, and advanced spectroscopic tools (FTIR, Raman, Py-GC/MS), supplemented by imaging, AI-based analysis, and emerging in-situ sensors. No single method meets all analytical needs; combined approaches are required.

Remediation strategies for water include filtration, coagulation–flocculation, electrocoagulation, flotation, and advanced oxidation, while soil remediation relies on soil washing, amendments (e.g., biochar), phytoremediation, microbial degradation, and in-situ techniques—each with trade-offs in cost, efficiency, and scalability. Overall, prevention and integrated, site-specific engineering frameworks that link source control, detection, risk assessment, remediation, monitoring, and policy feedback are identified as the most viable path for managing microplastics in agro-environmental systems.

Conclusion

Microplastics are currently ubiquitous pollutants of agro-environmental systems, and nowadays agricultural soils are identified as key sinks where they frequently occur in high levels compared to aquatic and marine systems. Various forms of polymers are introduced in the soils through intensive agricultural activities, including the application of plastic mulches, irrigation systems, sewage sludge, compost and wastewater, and they persist in the soils interacting with soil structure, microorganisms and hydro-logical processes. These interactions affect the microplastic transport, accumulation and bioavailability, as well as contribute to increased susceptibility of microplastic to agrochemicals carried by microplastics, heavy metals and pathogens threatening ecosystem functioning, water quality and human health. This review points out that microplastic pollution in both soil and water systems cannot be fully dealt with by a single detection or remediation technology. Recent in-situ sensor development and AI-based systems have potential future solutions to sustained monitoring, but established analytical methods can also give precise results as to source and concentration. Another limitation of the remediation strategies, though effective in water treatment, is its low level of application in soils because of its high cost, energy requirements, and long-term unpredictability of effectiveness. As a result, a systems-based approach, integrating the focus on source control, prevention, optimum detection, site-specific remediation, and ongoing monitoring with the assistance of the policy feedback is necessary. This can only be done through sustainable management of microplastics within the agricultural landscapes and also protecting soil health, water resources and food security.

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Copyright © 2026 Ali Bulama Gambo, Lawan Shettima Ali, Bulama Abubakar, Usman Babagana, Ibrahim Umar Sheikh, Ali Mohammad Kole, Mohammed Goni. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.