A large Chinese study has demonstrated that microplastic pollution of soil (along with that of rivers and seas) has a powerful detrimental impact on its populations of small arthropods and worms (https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/microplastics-harm-ants-worms-soil-nutrients-study-explained-614984). This may not sound very exciting (compared to ocean plastics endangering whales) but these tiny creatures (including ants, insect larvae, mites, nematode worms and springtails) are of great importance in the carbon and nitrogen cycles. They essentially breakdown organic matter, making it easier for bacteria (these are not influenced to the same degree) to complete the recycling process. The result is that soil fertility (along with our ability to grow crops) is impaired.
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