by Matteo Cavallito<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Moisture levels in soil can influence the effects of microplastic<\/strong> pollution on fungi. This is supported by research<\/a> published in the journal Environmental Microbiology. The investigation, carried out by researchers at the Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin<\/strong>, examined soil samples mixed with the plastic fragments under different conditions and obtained different results.<\/p>\n When the soil is well watered, says a statement<\/a> by the authors, toxic chemicals in the microplastics can be released into the soil, hindering its fungal richness<\/strong>. With dry soil, on the other hand, “the leaching of water-extractable chemicals is less pronounced and therefore less impactful on soil fungal structure.”<\/p>\n