The overarching goal of PAPILLONS is to find a sustainable balance between the benefits of plastic use in agriculture and the long-term risks posed by plastic residues. “Microplastics affect key soil properties and functions. They impact soil fauna, plant physiology, reduce chlorophyll content, and can even hinder plant growth. Plastics can significantly pollute agricultural land, especially if they are mismanaged,” explains Klára Šmídová from RECETOX.
Their presence may degrade soil quality, reduce agricultural productivity, and diminish the ecological and economic value of landscapes. However, the issue extends beyond soil. Microplastics can leach into groundwater and surrounding water bodies, potentially entering drinking water systems and further threatening environmental and human health. The RECETOX team contributed to the project on multiple levels. Their primary role involved testing of the ecotoxicity of microplastics derived from agricultural plastics, from laboratory, mesocosms and field-plot experiments. These tests examined the effects on soil microorganisms as well as soil-dwelling organisms such as enchytraeids and nematodes—key indicators of soil health.
As part of PAPILLONS, a pan-European study was conducted to assess microplastic contamination in agricultural soils. Soil samples were collected in 2022 from seven countries—Finland, Norway, Germany, Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, and Greece—and analyzed for a range of parameters, including microplastic concentrations. The RECETOX team also coordinated soil sampling across the Czech Republic. Samples were taken from fields both with and without a history of agricultural plastic use, as well as from areas where sewage sludge or compost—other potential sources of microplastics—had been applied. .
The findings were striking: microplastic levels in European agricultural soils are significantly higher than previously reported, in some cases exceeding known thresholds for negative effects on soil health and crop productivity. In the Czech Republic, two sampled fields showed some of the highest concentrations in Europe. One site contained 339,200 microplastic particles per kilogram of dry soil.
“This hotspot was linked to PVC particles likely originating from a nearby PVC-processing factory, suggesting atmospheric deposition as a major route of contamination. It’s likely that a large area around the factory is contaminated, yet this type of pollution is completely overlooked by current legislation and nothing is measured or controlled,” comments Jakub Hofman from RECETOX.
The European Commission has recently launched the Soil Health Mission, aiming to ensure that 75% of soils in Europe are healthy by 2030 and capable of delivering essential ecosystem services, including food production and water regulation. This mission is closely aligned with the EU Soil Strategy, which intersects with other major EU policies such as the Biodiversity Strategy, Farm to Fork Strategy, and Zero Pollution Strategy—all of which are reflected in the new Common Agricultural Policy.
PAPILLONS plays a critical role in supporting these initiatives. As a Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Action, it provides essential data and insights for implementing the EU Soil Strategy. The project also contributes to the EU Plastics Strategy in the Circular Economy, offering a comprehensive inventory of agricultural plastic use, management practices, and mismanagement across Europe.
“The project was generally well received, including by the European Commission and its commissioners. The consortium is now awaiting the launch of a new call focused on soil pollution,” concludes Šmídová.
