Microplastics (MPs; < 5 mm) and Nanoplastics (NPs; 1 nm - 1 µm) are persistent contaminants in agricultural ecosystems and originate from plastic mulching, irrigation systems, packaging products, improper waste management, and atmospheric deposition. Their accumulation in soils is a concern for soil productivity, health, and safety and, by extension, food safety. The impacts of MPs and NPs on crop systems are reviewed with respect to the influence of polymer characteristics, size of the MPs and NPs, concentration of their exposure, and plant species. It also evaluates the potential for existing mitigation and remediation strategies. MPs and NPs can have an impact on seed germination, root growth, photosynthesis, nutrient assimilation, oxidation-reduction processes, and molecular responses in plants. The effects depend on the type of polymer, particle size, conditions, and concentrations. Smaller NPs tend to be more mobile and accessible to the cells, while MPs can impact plants via physical interference, soil structural modification, and microbial interactions. Additives and surface properties have a strong influence on toxicity; some polymers are more toxic than others. While these methods, such as microbial degradation, application of biochar, phytoremediation, and nanotechnology-based methods, are promising, it is hampered by cost, efficiency, and environmental restrictions when applied at a large scale. Emphasis needs to be placed on preventive systems, plastic management, and proven remediation systems. Long-term field studies, plant uptake mechanisms, toxicities of different polymer types, co-contaminant interactions, and food-chain transfer of plastics should be investigated in the future to provide sustainable solutions to plastic pollution in agriculture.
Microplastic pollution globally has become a major issue, sparking interest in many technologies to combat and manage it. Numerical particle tracking models (PTMs) provide a cost-effective and flexible approach to predict microplastic accumulation zones in marine environments. Numerical transport modeling in estuaries requires additional considerations compared to open ocean systems, such as using a finer or adaptive computational mesh, seasonal variability in precipitation and river discharge, multiple potential microplastic release locations, and enhanced vertical mixing associated with the halocline gradient. There are a variety of processes and parameters encompassed by the PTM; many case-studies have been performed examining the interactions between these variables and PTM results. Often, case studies analyse the effect of the release location due to its large impact and uniqueness to each estuary system. Particle beaching processes are frequently studied; however, the implementation of the process varies between studies and there have been few studies examining the mechanics of beaching in more depth. Parameters pertaining to settling velocity, including particle size, shape and density, have been examined to varying extents. Each of these parameters could benefit from more research however, particle shape particularly would benefit from additional research. The resuspension of particles from the bottom, has become more accessible creating more opportunity for research of the impact of resuspension on particle distribution. There are also many techniques of implementing resuspension which could be further studied individually and in relation to one another. Processes requiring additional models or information such as biofouling, requiring a biological model, or coastal shielding, requiring information on coastal environmental protections in the region; provide interesting case studies for future research but are less accessible for study. Various analytical methods can be applied to interpret PTM results, including one-dimensional distribution plots, section-based particle counts, and clustering algorithms. One-dimensional distribution plots are useful for determining whether an estuary is advection- or diffusion-dominated, section-based particle counts facilitate direct comparison across simulation results, and clustering algorithms enable detailed identification of microplastic hotspots. This review synthesizes current modeling approaches and identifies key knowledge gaps, providing guidance for future research and improved application of PTMs in estuarine environments.
Livestock manure is a prominent reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which pose growing environmental and public health risks that require effective management. Vermicomposting offers an eco-friendly and low-cost approach for stabilizing livestock manure and attenuating ARGs under ambient conditions, yet its efficiency and stability are constrained by system variability and selective reduction capacity. Here, we integrate earthworm–microbe ecological mechanisms with functional microbiome augmentation, extending previous process- or fate-oriented perspectives toward a framework for targeted microbiome-assisted ARG management during livestock-manure vermicomposting. We synthesize the occurrence, transmission, and environmental risks of ARGs in livestock manure, clarify the multi-mechanistic processes underlying ARG reduction in earthworm–microorganism synergistic systems, and reveal the context-dependent dual roles (carriers or reducers) of dominant microbial phyla. We further evaluate representative functional microbiomes, synthetic microbial consortia, and their efficacy in enhancing ARG removal during vermicomposting. Major challenges are identified, including functional strain screening, environmental adaptability, biosafety, and intelligent process control, with targeted future directions proposed. This review provides a theoretical and practical framework for sustainable livestock manure management and active ARG pollution control, supporting the development of green, safe, and scalable waste treatment technologies for agro-environmental protection.
Driven by the “dual carbon” and “zero-waste city” strategies in China, municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) is transitioning from a treatment terminal into a critical urban carbon flow hub. This study reviews the carbon accounting systems, full-chain carbon emission reduction technologies, and macro-environmental policy frameworks for MSWI decarbonization. Traditional static accounting can overestimate emissions by up to 40%, necessitating a shift toward dynamic monitoring, reporting, and verification systems that integrate 14 CO 2 isotopes and digital twins. Technologically, the carbon emission reduction paradigm has shifted to a “source-process-sink” synergy that enhances targeted fossil carbon sorting at the source, unleashes the thermal potential of MSWI via intelligent combustion control, and strategically focuses on the accelerated mineralization and building material substitution of ash at the sink. Life-cycle economic analyses confirmed that the “treating waste with waste” approach is commercially viable. Ultimately, to realize the full carbon emission reduction potential of MSWI, the underlying pollution control standards must be revised to incorporate mitigation benefits into compliance exemption systems. Moreover, deep integration with carbon markets is required to drive the evolution of MSWI toward a regional negative-carbon energy paradigm.
Urban forests are increasingly recognized as multifunctional nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and urban sustainability. However, understanding of carbon (C) sequestration across different urban forest types remains fragmented, and the role of tree species diversity in regulating C processes is not consistently evidenced across ecological and planning-oriented studies. This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on the mechanisms linking urban forest structure, species diversity, and management intensity to C storage and stabilization across heterogeneous urban landscapes. Evidences are integrated from street tree corridors, urban parks, remnant woodlands, and plantation forests to examine how aboveground biomass accumulation, litter and root-derived C inputs, soil organic C stabilization, and microbial processes collectively influence C cycling across spatial and management gradients. Systematic differences exist in the balance between short-term C accumulation and long-term soil C persistence across forest types. Species diversity plays a particularly critical role in plantation forests, where mixed-species design can enhance both biomass and soil C stabilization. Despite these advances, substantial limitations remain, including limited long-term empirical data, insufficient mechanistic understanding of trait-mediated effects, inconsistent methodologies and inadequate consideration of legacy land-use effects, and management disturbances. A conceptual framework links urban forest planning and design to C sequestration outcomes. This study provides guidance for integrating climate mitigation objectives into urban landscape planning while maintaining ecosystem multifunctionality and resilience.
