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Microplastic data on microplastics in forest soils
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Scientists analyzed soil from German forests and found that microplastic amounts varied widely from spot to spot, depending on things like soil chemistry and how the forest itself is structured. This matters because forests are often seen as "clean" natural areas, but this research shows plastic pollution is creeping in even there—meaning the food grown near forests and the water filtering through this soil could be affected too. This dataset itself doesn't test human health effects, but it helps build the bigger picture of how far plastic pollution has spread into our environment.
Within this dataset I provide data on microplastic particles extracted from forest soils (Hesse, Germany). The data corresponds to a planned publication entitled: "High Variability of Microplastic Concentrations in Forest Soils Driven by Soil Properties and Forest Structure" authored by O. Heberer, K. Lügger, C. Heller and C.J. Weber. The dataset includes the following: ir_audit_merged_MP_data.csv = Microplastic data including polymer identification, identification score, particle size and morphology descriptors (numeric) based on FPA-µFTIR chemical imaging and data anlysis using microparticlesAI (Hufnagl Chemometrics GmbH)MP_conc_stocks_data.csv = Microplastic concentrations and microplastic stocks calculated from microplastic data and soil features (horizon thickness and soil bulk density) for each soil horizon ltsm_soil_data_export.csv = Export of basic soil data from the Hessian long term soil monitoring programm (LTSM) with permission of the Hessian Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology, Wiesbaden, Germany (2026) including data on soil pH, TOC, N and texture for each horizon
More Papers Like This
Microplastic data on microplastics in forest soils
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested forest soils in Germany and found that microplastic levels varied a lot from place to place, depending on things like soil chemistry and the type of forest growing there. This matters because forests aren't as untouched as we might think—tiny plastic particles are working their way into the ground beneath trees, and understanding what drives this buildup is a first step toward figuring out how these plastics might eventually reach our food and water supplies.
[Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Microplastic Contamination in Soil and Influencing Factors: A Global Analysis].
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Microplastic pollution in soil has spiked since 2015 as global plastic production soared, and surprisingly, forests and unused land often have more contamination than farmland or cities—showing plastic waste travels far beyond where it's dumped. Since soil microplastics can work their way into crops, groundwater, and eventually our food supply, this matters for everyone, not just people living near factories or farms; the researchers pinpoint farming and industrial activity as the biggest culprits, pointing to where cleanup efforts should focus first.
The Effect of Microplastics on Soil Microbial Activity, Biomass, and Microbial Community Structure in Three Types of Temperate Forest
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles in forest soil can shift the balance of microorganisms living there, favoring bacteria over fungi and reducing the total amount of microbial life when the plastic pieces are especially small. Since these soil microbes play a key role in breaking down nutrients and keeping forest ecosystems healthy, this suggests that widespread microplastic pollution could quietly disrupt the natural systems that support clean soil, water, and the food chain we ultimately depend on.
Microplastic background levels in German soils: The influence of site-specific characteristics and land-use practices
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles in farm soils across Germany, with higher levels in grasslands than crop fields. While the amounts detected were generally low, this research shows that microplastics are spreading everywhere in our environment, including the soils where our food is grown. This matters because these plastic particles could potentially enter our food chain, though more research is needed to understand the full health effects.
Mind the gap: forest soils as a hidden hub for global micro- and nanoplastic pollution
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Researchers examined the underappreciated role of forest soils as a global sink for micro- and nanoplastics, noting that forest canopies can intercept airborne plastic particles that then accumulate in the soil below. Despite covering a third of Earth's land surface, forest soil plastic pollution remains largely unstudied, leaving a major gap in understanding where environmental plastics ultimately end up.
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