According to a new review from Murdoch University in Australia, agricultural soils now contain up to twenty-three times more microplastics than the world’s oceans.

These microscopic plastic particles—along with even smaller nanoplastics—are now routinely found in staple crops such as lettuce, wheat, and carrots.

They enter the food supply through plastic mulch films, contaminated fertilizers, and even rainfall carried by clouds.

While some plasticizers like BPA are being phased out, the substitutes often aren’t any safer.

As Boctor explains, “Replacement chemicals like BPF and BPS show comparable or greater endocrine-disrupting activity… and BPA-free does not equal risk-free.”

These additives, along with others such as phthalates and flame retardants, have been linked to a range of health concerns, including reproductive disorders, neurodegenerative disease, cardiovascular risks, and even premature death.

Boctor and his team at Murdoch University’s Bioplastics Innovation Hub—a research center launched in 2024 to develop safer, more sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics—are focused on creating biodegradable solutions.

One of their current projects is a non-toxic, bioplastic-based crop spray designed to reduce long-term toxicity in agricultural systems.

“This review highlights the urgent need for coordinated scientific and regulatory efforts,” Boctor emphasizes. “Regulators, scientists, and industry must collaborate to close the loopholes before plastic pollution further entrenches itself in the global food chain.”

For consumers, staying informed and choosing fresh, unprocessed foods—ideally from organic or plastic-free farms—remains one of the few ways to reduce exposure.

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Adapted from: Murdoch University. “Scientists say microplastics are ‘silently spreading from soil to salad to humans’.” ScienceDaily, 22 May 2025. https://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2025/05/250522125353.htm