We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics Abundance and Spatial Distribution in Bayinbuluk Alpine Swamp Meadow
AI summary Read the abstract
Soil samples collected at different depths in Bayinbuluk alpine swamp meadow revealed microplastic abundances of 46–266 particles/kg, with significantly higher concentrations in surface soils and fragments being the dominant shape, suggesting atmospheric deposition and surface accumulation.
In order to investigate the current pollution status and distribution characteristics of soil microplastics (MPs) in Bayinbuluk alpine swamp meadow, soil samples of different depths were collected from the study area. The physicochemical properties of the soil, as well as the abundance and morphological distribution of microplastics, were analyzed. The results showed that the microplastics’ abundance in the samples ranged from 46 to 266 microplastics/kg, with significantly higher levels (p < 0.05) in the 0–10 cm soil layer than in the other layers (10–100 cm). The shapes of microplastics mainly include fibrous, fragmented, thin film, and foamed, and the number of fibrous shapes is significantly higher than the other three types. Microplastic colors included black, yellow, red, blue, green, and clear, with black accounting for 70.16%, significantly more abundant than other colors (p < 0.05). Among the different particle sizes of microplastics, 0.5–1 mm microplastics comprised the largest proportion and were significantly more abundant than other particle sizes. Polyethylene (PE) was found to be a major component of soil microplastics in the study area through random sampling using Raman spectroscopy. Correlation analysis showed that the change in soil layer had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the number, color, and particle size of microplastics. Meanwhile, an increase in microplastic abundance had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the soil physicochemical properties. The results of RDA (Redundancy Analysis) and Monte Carlo testing showed that there was a significant correlation between microplastic quantity and soluble organic carbon and soil water content (p < 0.01).
More Papers Like This
Analysis of microplastics in soils on the high-altitude area of the Tibetan Plateau: Multiple environmental factors
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in soils across different land use types on the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau, a remote and sparsely populated region. The study found that microplastic abundance varied with land use, altitude, meteorological conditions, and distance from roads, with greenhouse soils showing the highest concentrations, indicating that even remote high-altitude environments are not free from microplastic pollution.
Pollution and Distribution of Microplastics in Grassland Soils of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers collected and analyzed 22 grassland soil samples from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and found microplastics present in every sample, with an average abundance of 1,202 particles per kilogram. Polyethylene terephthalate was the dominant polymer type, and most particles were in the 10-50 micrometer size range. The findings demonstrate that microplastic contamination reaches even remote, high-altitude grassland environments far from major population centers.
The occurrence and effect of altitude on microplastics distribution in agricultural soils of Qinghai Province, northwest China
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastic distribution was investigated in agricultural soils of Qinghai Province at different altitudes, finding that altitude influenced microplastic characteristics and abundance, with lower-altitude agricultural areas showing higher contamination from plastic film use.
Macro and microplastics in the soil: abundance, characterization, identification, and interactions under different land uses in an agricultural sub-basin
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined the abundance, characterization, identification, and interactions of macro- and microplastics in soils under different land uses within an agricultural sub-basin, assessing how land-use patterns influence plastic pollution distribution and potential interactions with the soil environment.
Effects of land use and landscape on the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in soil, China
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how land use patterns affect microplastic contamination in soils across different agricultural, orchard, grassland, and woodland areas in Yunnan Province, China. Agricultural lands, especially those with greenhouses and traditional farming, had significantly higher microplastic levels than grasslands and woodlands, with fragments being the dominant shape. The study suggests that farming practices, including plastic mulch use and fertilizer application, are major contributors to soil microplastic pollution.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.