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MPGRIDS v1.01
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists have created detailed global maps showing where microplastics are entering farm soil through organic fertilizers (like compost and manure) across 186 countries. This matters because microplastics in soil can end up in the crops we eat, and these maps can help researchers and policymakers pinpoint which farming regions may need better fertilizer practices to reduce contamination. Note that this paper itself is a data resource, not a health study—it maps where microplastic contamination is likely, but doesn't directly measure health effects.
We distribute in MPGRIDS georeferenced NetCDF formatted (.NC) maps of estimated Organic Matter (OM) amendments to organic farmlands and microplastics (MP) concentration in OM as a source of MP contamination in agricultural soil. We also distribute georeferenced maps of the annual MP inputs per unit crop surface area and in individual georeferenced grid cell (Table 1). The geospatial maps have 0.05 degree resolution (i.e., ~5.55 km at the equator) and a bounding box of (-180W, 180E) in longitude and (-90S, 90N) in latitude in WGS84 coordinate system. Similarly, all georeferenced maps are distributed also in Portable Network Graphic (.PNG) format for ease of visualization. In addition, we distribute all variables above as nationally aggregated values in tabular form as .XLSX formatted files. MPGRIDS coves 186 countries globally, and refers to circa year 2015 (years of source data ranges between 2005 and 2024). Methods of derivation of MPGRIDS are fully described in the associated manuscript Maggi et al., (2025), SDATA.
More Papers Like This
MPGRIDS v1.01
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists have created detailed global maps showing where microplastics are entering farm soil through organic fertilizers (like compost and manure) across 186 countries. This matters because microplastics in soil can end up in the crops we eat, and these maps help researchers and food safety officials pinpoint which farming regions may have higher contamination risks—an important first step toward understanding how plastic pollution might be entering our food supply.
MPGRIDS, global geospatial estimates of microplastic inputs to agricultural soil via organic amendments
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists created the first global map estimating how much microplastic pollution enters farmland through fertilizers made from organic waste—finding that potentially hundreds of thousands to millions of tonnes of plastic bits are added to soils worldwide every year. This matters because these microplastics can build up in the soil where our fruits, vegetables, and other crops grow, raising concerns about long-term contamination of the food we eat and the health of farmland itself. While the exact amounts are still uncertain, this research gives us a starting point for tracking and addressing plastic pollution in our food supply.
A global dataset of soil microplastics (2005-2026)
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists compiled the largest known database of soil microplastic pollution, combining nearly 6,200 measurements from over 4,900 locations in 49 countries into one standardized resource. This matters because soil is where much of our food grows, and understanding how tiny plastic particles build up in farmland and other soils is a key step toward figuring out whether—and how much—plastic pollution might be making its way into the food we eat. The dataset itself doesn't test health effects, but it gives researchers the consistent, comparable data they need to start answering those questions.
Global concentrations of microplastic in soils, a review
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Tiny plastic particles called microplastics are showing up in soils around the world, and this study rounds up existing research to see how much is out there, especially in farmland. This matters because soil is where our food grows, so understanding microplastic buildup there is an important step toward figuring out if it could end up in our meals and affect our health. Note that this paper mainly organizes what scientists already know rather than presenting brand-new findings.
Global Microplastic Dataset for Arid and Semi-Arid Regions
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists compiled data from multiple studies to track how much microplastic pollution (tiny plastic bits) is showing up in soil across dry and semi-dry regions around the world. This matters because these areas often grow our food and provide drinking water, so understanding how much plastic is building up in the soil helps researchers figure out whether it could eventually make its way into what we eat and drink. Note that this is a dataset compiling existing research rather than a new study on health effects, so it doesn't yet tell us how these microplastic levels directly impact human health.
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