Pedosphere (4): 872--888, 2026
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2026 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Combined effects of microplastics and Pb on soil-tobacco systems revealed by soil microbiomics and metabolomics |
Rong ZHAO1, Zeyu ZUO1, Ping CONG2, Haibin LI2, Mingwei LI1, Yanna ZHAO1, Fang ZUO1, Jiao SUN1, Yuhuan SUN1, Guangjian XU1, Xuebo ZHENG2 , Fayuan WANG1 |
1 College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042 (China);
2 Key Laboratory of Tobacco Biology and Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao 266101 (China) |
| ABSTRACT |
| Co-contamination risks of microplastics (MPs) and toxic heavy metals such as lead (Pb) to soil-plant systems remain poorly understood. Therefore, we conducted a two-month greenhouse pot experiment to explore the responses of soil-tobacco systems to polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polylactic acid (PLA) MPs (0, 0.2%, and 2%, weight/weight) under varying Pb levels (0, 400, and 800 mg kg-1). Generally, the combined exposure to MPs and Pb produced higher inhibition than single treatments, with the lowest shoot biomass observed under co-exposure to 2% PLA and 400 mg kg-1 Pb. Microplastics increased soil available Pb concentrations at 400 mg kg-1 Pb, but decreased them at 800 mg kg-1 Pb, and generally reduced root and leaf Pb concentrations as well as leaf Mn, Fe, and Cu concentrations. Overall, 2% PLA caused more profound alterations in soil properties. Co-exposure to 2% PLA and 400 mg kg-1 Pb caused the largest reductions in soil bacterial α-diversity. Both Pb and MPs (particularly 2% PLA) changed soil bacterial community composition, with significant enrichments in Actinobacteriota (phylum) and Streptomyces (genus). Soil metabolomics analysis further revealed that MPs and Pb disrupted several metabolic pathways, such as secondary metabolite synthesis, amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism. In conclusion, co-existing MPs can interact with Pb to disrupt tobacco growth, Pb accumulation, soil microbial communities, and soil metabolites. For the first time, our study evaluated the co-contamination risks of MPs and Pb in soil-tobacco systems, offering new insights for the management and remediation of soils contaminated with these contaminants. |
| Key Words: biodegradable plastics,co-contamination,contaminant,heavy metals,phytotoxicity,soil microbial community,soil pollution,soil remediation |
| Citation: Zhao R, Zuo Z Y, Cong P, Li H B, Li M W, Zhao Y N, Zuo F, Sun J, Sun Y H, Xu G J, Zheng X B, Wang F Y. 2026. Combined effects of microplastics and Pb on soil-tobacco systems revealed by soil microbiomics and metabolomics. Pedosphere. 36(4): 872-888. |
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