Microplastic pollution of agricultural soils in the Sultanate of Oman

Microplastic residues (MPs) in terrestrial environments may pose serious environmental and health issues due to their intrinsic characteristics and persistence. The MP detrimental impacts affect soil and plant health, and eventually may enter our food chain system. This research proposal attempts to study the spatial distribution of the MPs in agricultural soils and practices in the Sultanate of Oman. A series of soil sampling campaigns and analytical efforts will be conducted to identify the potential MP contamination of soil resources in selected areas. Furthermore, the potential risks of MP byproducts and secondary contamination will be explored. Management recommendations will be drawn from research results. The findings of this research work will initiate further research efforts to explore the impact of MP contamination on physical and chemical behavior of agricultural soils, their retention potential, plant health, and public health.