Authors : M. N. Hanif, N. K. Abbood, M. Babur, M. Akhtar, H. Sun, K. Azam, M. N. Akhtar, Q. ul Ain
DOI : 10.1007/s13762-026-07459-9
Volume : 23
Issue : 10
Year : 2026
Page No : 1-42
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) have emerged as pervasive soil contaminants with significant potential to alter the environmental fate and ecological impacts of co-occurring pesticides. This comprehensive review synthesizes current knowledge on MNP-pesticide interactions in terrestrial systems, bridging mechanistic insights from aquatic studies to soil-specific processes. We critically evaluate how MNP properties (polymer type, size, aging state) and environmental conditions (pH, temperature, organic matter) govern pesticide sorption through hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π-π electron donor-acceptor forces, and electrostatic mechanisms. The review demonstrates that MNPs generally enhance pesticide persistence in soil, with aged MNPs exhibiting stronger vector effects than pristine particles. Ecotoxicological evidence reveals that MNP-pesticide co-exposure often exacerbates adverse effects on soil organisms through amplified oxidative stress, metabolic disruption, and altered bioaccumulation patterns, though outcomes are highly context-dependent. Critical knowledge gaps persist regarding field-realistic aging processes, size-specific adsorption isotherms under environmentally relevant conditions, and long-term impacts on plant health and food security. Future research must prioritize standardized methodologies for combined toxicity assessment, predictive modeling of co-contaminant transport, and development of risk assessment frameworks that account for the dynamic nature of weathered MNPs as pesticide vectors in agricultural ecosystems.