Microplastics and pesticides are two of the most widespread pollutants in our environment – but new research shows that the real danger may lie in how these two interact.
A February 2025 report by Beyond Pesticides, based on a review of over 90 scientific studies, concludes that microplastics don’t just exist alongside pesticides — they change how pesticides behave, making them more toxic, more persistent, and harder to control.
The researchers say that this interaction has serious consequences for soil health, food production, water quality, and the health of both people and wildlife. Here's what their research tells us — and why it matters.
Microplastics Are Everywhere — Including in Farmland
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, often smaller than a grain of rice. They come from larger plastic waste that breaks down over time or they’re manufactured intentionally for use in things like cosmetics, cleaning products, and industrial materials.
Research has shown that the primary contributors to microplastic pollution in water and wastewater include:
- Laundering Synthetic Textiles: Washing clothes made of synthetic materials, such as polyester and nylon, releases microfibers into wastewater systems. These microfibers are classified as microplastics and often pass through treatment facilities.
- Tire Wear: As vehicles move, the friction between tires and roads generates tiny plastic particles. These particles eventually make their way into the environment through stormwater runoff.
- City Dust: Urban areas generate microplastic particles from various sources, including construction materials, vehicle emissions, and discarded plastic waste.
In agriculture, microplastics enter the environment through plastic mulch, fertilizer coatings, treated sewage sludge (biosolids), and pesticide products themselves.
Because of their size and durability, these particles can’t be removed easily and are now considered a global pollutant. They’re found in soil, water, air, and even inside living organisms — including humans. People take them in through the food they eat, the water they drink, and the air they breathe.
Microplastics Change How Pesticides Work
The most important finding in the report is this: microplastics can bind to pesticides and change their behavior.
According to Dr. Kuok Ho Daniel Tang, the University of Arizona researcher who led the study, “Microplastics interact with pesticides through adsorption — basically sticking to their surface — and that changes how long the pesticide lasts, how toxic it is, and how easily it can be taken up by plants, animals, or microbes.”
That means a pesticide’s ability to do its job — killing a pest, fungus, or weed — is reduced or altered. And at the same time, it may linger in the environment longer or end up in places it shouldn’t, like food crops, groundwater, or the bodies of beneficial organisms like earthworms.
Lower Pesticide Effectiveness = More Chemicals Used
One of the more troubling outcomes is that microplastics often reduce how available a pesticide is to the target pest. This is known as “bioavailability.” When microplastics bind to pesticide molecules, those chemicals become harder for pests — or even crops — to absorb. As a result, farmers may apply more pesticide to get the same result.
This creates a dangerous cycle: reduced effectiveness leads to increased use, which increases costs for farmers and further contaminates the environment.
Some examples from the research:
- Microplastics caused a weed killer (atrazine) to break down in the soil before it could work properly
- Aged microplastics absorbed more pesticide than new ones, making pesticides less effective over time
- The combination of microplastics and pesticides reduced seed germination in lettuce and other crops
- Earthworms and other soil organisms showed signs of stress or injury after being exposed to microplastics and pesticides together
Microplastics Make Pesticides Last Longer
In addition to changing how pesticides work, microplastics also affect how long they stay in the environment. This is known as pesticide “persistence.” Normally, pesticides break down after a certain period — called their half-life. But when microplastics are present, that breakdown process slows down.
The report found:
- In water, microplastics extended the breakdown time of herbicides from 231 days to over 800 days
- The presence of microplastics increased the half-life of some fungicides and insecticides by 30–50%
- Some chemicals, like chlorpyrifos, broke down much more slowly when microplastics were present, increasing their chance of causing harm to unintended organisms
- When pesticides hang around longer than expected, they can leach into groundwater, harm aquatic life, and continue to disrupt ecosystems well after their intended use
Soil Health Suffers — Which Affects Food Security
Healthy soil is the foundation of agriculture. But pesticides and microplastics — especially in combination — are damaging that foundation.
The review shows that microplastics can:
- Alter the structure of soil, making it harder to retain water and nutrients
- Reduce microbial activity — the natural bacteria and fungi that help crops grow
- Disrupt the balance of organic matter, making soil less fertile over time
These effects mean farmers may have to rely more heavily on synthetic fertilizers and chemical additives to maintain yields, adding more costs and more pollution.
Microplastics Make Pesticides More Toxic to Wildlife
Even though microplastics reduce how much pesticide is available to the target pests, they often increase toxicity in other ways — especially to beneficial organisms.
When a pesticide sticks to a microplastic particle, and that particle is eaten by an earthworm, aquatic insect, or other organism, it delivers a concentrated dose of pesticide directly into their system. This has been shown to:
- Increase stress and damage in earthworms, including to their reproductive organs
- Reduce growth and antioxidant function in soil organisms
- Increase pesticide buildup in plants like radishes while reducing plant growth.
These ripple effects go beyond individual species. They impact soil fertility, crop production, and entire food webs.
What Can Be Done? Transitioning to Organic Solutions
The findings from this literature review make one thing clear: plastic and pesticide pollution are deeply connected. And solving one means addressing both.
A major solution offered by Beyond Pesticides is transitioning to organic agriculture. Organic systems avoid synthetic pesticides and chemical coatings, and limit plastic use in the field. These practices protect soil health, water quality, and the diversity of organisms needed for sustainable farming.
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) — which helps set U.S. standards for certified organic production — is actively reviewing policies on plastics in farming. Groups like Beyond Pesticides are advocating for tighter restrictions on plastic use and increased support for farmers who adopt safer, more sustainable methods.
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