Microplastics in soil pose global threat by acting like ‘Trojan horse’ to deliver toxins
Researchers found traces of microplastics in 227 agricultural fields across 11 European countries. Photograph: Roman Babakin/AlamyView image in fullscreenResearchers found traces of microplastics in 227 agricultural fields across 11 European countries. Known as the plastisphere, these surfaces form a hotspot for interactions between plastics, microbes and agrochemicals, the researchers found.An increase of antibiotic-resistant genes was found within plastispheres when compared with controls.
- ▪Researchers found traces of microplastics in 227 agricultural fields across 11 European countries.
- ▪Photograph: Roman Babakin/AlamyView image in fullscreenResearchers found traces of microplastics in 227 agricultural fields across 11 European countries.
- ▪Known as the plastisphere, these surfaces form a hotspot for interactions between plastics, microbes and agrochemicals, the researchers found.An increase of antibiotic-resistant genes was found within plastispheres when compared with contro
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — Science |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/16/soil-microplastics-trojan-horse-toxins |
| Publication time | Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:19 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-16T12:03:41.233Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-16T12:03:41.233Z |
| Headline source | Publisher (no WeSearch rewrite) |
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| Summary | WeSearch · cerebras-chat (WeSearch summarizer) |
| Summary source text | contentText |
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| Cluster | QPi2unKtNvy8 · 1 stories |
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| Publisher visit | Yes — open original |
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Researchers found traces of microplastics in 227 agricultural fields across 11 European countries. Photograph: Roman Babakin/AlamyView image in fullscreenResearchers found traces of microplastics in 227 agricultural fields across 11 European countries. Photograph: Roman Babakin/AlamyPlasticsMicroplastics in soil pose global threat by acting like ‘Trojan horse’ to deliver toxinsExclusive: Plastic surfaces form hotspots with an increase of antibiotic-resistant genes, study findsPippa Neill Environment reporterWed 16 Sep 2026 08.00 EDTLast modified on Wed 16 Sep 2026 08.01 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleMicroplastics act like a “Trojan horse” delivering pollutants, pesticides and bacteria through the soil, a five-year multinational research project has found.The EU-funded project,…
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