Motivation

Plastics, as they degrade in the atmosphere, water bodies, and soils, generate microplastics (MPs) that disperse widely and interact with organisms and other substances. In agricultural systems, MPs enter through sludge and contaminated water, potentially becoming part of the internal transport of plants and reaching roots, stems, leaves, and fruits, which contaminates food and increases human and animal exposure. This exposure poses serious and still poorly understood risks, including irreversible effects on health and the environment. Among the hazards are the release of chemical additives, the presence of microorganisms on plastic surfaces, and the possible cellular internalization of fragments through ingestion, inhalation, or dermal contact. Faced with this issue, standardized methods are needed to identify MPs and effective strategies to mitigate their discharge and accumulation. The assessment of combined toxicity and ecosystem risks remains a critical area that demands more robust data.