From the Root: How Microplastics are Suffocating our Forests

Tallula O’Brien

Microplastics are classified as tiny plastic particles derived from plastic degradation, and are a pollutant that people encounter every day without realizing it. Whether they’re in the fabric of your clothing, the dust under your bed, or your mid-day snack, microplastics are a growing concern in not just human health, but the health of the environment worldwide. Although social media extensively highlights the existence of plastics in marine ecosystems and processed foods, the average person is often not aware of the toll microplastics are taking on tree and forest development. The presence of these plastics can have detrimental effects on plant growth factors such as photosynthesis, soil health, and carbon storage; these processes are all necessary for maintaining forest ecosystems, as well as helping control climate change. 

Although microplastics were initially discovered in the early 1970s, research on their prevalence in trees began this decade. So far, advancements are slow, but scientists have biologically confirmed the presence of microplastics in one tree species, the silver birch; this discovery helped spark the issue, and could pave the way for future studies. In 2025, Scientific American magazine published a study revealing that microplastic concentrations in plants could reduce photosynthesis by up to twelve percent, as microplastic particles filter out sunlight, interfere with chlorophyll chemical levels, and decrease water and nutrient uptake. Apart from harming growth, the rise of microplastics in trees could have potentially serious effects on humankind. Plant life serves as one of the Earth’s largest carbon sinks, and plays a vital role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and therefore combating global warming. 

So, how are microplastics infiltrating plant life? There are several possible explanations as to how particles are entering root systems, one of which is a common recreational activity- hiking. While it appears relatively harmless, synthetics from hiking boots, camping gear, and bike tires can pollute a forest or park, especially when that area has heavy foot traffic. In addition to what’s on your feet, litter is another large source of plastic deposition in the environment. Plastic water bottles, plastic bags, and other food storage containers can shed microplastics and chemicals that permeate soil ecosystems, giving the particles a pathway to enter plant systems. Aside from direct human impact, microplastics can enter tree roots due to runoff from rivers, which can include pollutants from residential neighborhoods and even illegal dumping. All of these inputs create an accumulation of plastics in soils, which is how they find their way into the root systems and even tissues of trees. 

It can be challenging to create policies that hold perpetrators of plastic pollution responsible because microplastics are considered nonpoint source pollution, which means that they come from a wide array of activities as opposed to a singular, identifiable origin. However, while there isn’t a broad policy that prevents plastic pollution in trees, there are many regulations regarding plastic contamination in other spheres. When legislation is passed to target any kind of contaminants from entering groundwater or soil systems, it indirectly also protects plant life. For example, the management of runoff is aided by policies such as the Clean Water Act, which controls permitting and can deny certain polluters, requires reporting methods for pollution, and sets water quality standards.  

Beyond relying on government solutions, change can also be sparked bottom-up. Smaller actions that reduce your personal plastic footprint include bringing reusable water bottles and food containers, wearing clothing made from cotton or wool, and making sure to pick up any litter you spot outdoors while hiking or camping. To get involved politically, there is currently a pending bill introduced in Congress called the Reducing Waste in National Parks Act. This act would, under the management of the National Park Service, establish a program to phase out single-use plastics at parks across the country. Contacting your representatives to vote in favor of this regulation means taking a step in the right direction to help save our forests, and making your voice heard in an issue that will persist without action.

While the dangers of microplastics can go unnoticed to the everyday citizen, education and awareness of this topic is crucial in understanding just how far the effects of plastic pollution reach, and how current policy decisions will shape future generations. No matter what scale it is on, any kind of involvement to keep plastic out of our forests is an effort worth making.

Citations

Microplastics are falling from the sky and polluting forests. (2026). ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260323005535.htm 

Austen, K., MacLean, J., Balanzategui, D., & Hölker, F. (2022). Microplastic inclusion in birch tree roots. Science of The Total Environment, 808, 152085. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152085 

School Manager by Family Zone. (2025). Scientificamerican.Com. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/microplastic-pollution-is-messing-with-photosynthesis-in-plants/ 

Plastic Pollution Coalition Editor. (2026, March 20). How Microplastics are Changing Forests. Plastic Pollution Coalition. https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2026/3/20/how-microplastics-are-changing-forests 

The Regulatory Review, & Rice, I. (2023, November 30). Regulating Plastic Pollution Through The Clean Water Act | The Regulatory Review. The Regulatory Review. https://www.theregreview.org/2023/11/30/rice-regulating-plastic-pollution-through-the-clean-water-act/ 

Sen Merkley, J. D.-O. (2025). Cosponsors - S.1926 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Reducing Waste in National Parks Act. Congress.Gov. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1926/cosponsors