We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in the Typical Mulched Farmland of Sichuan Province: Characteristics That Vary Across Farming Scales and the Risk Significantly Contributed by Priority Polymers
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated microplastic characteristics in mulched agricultural soils across different farming scales in Sichuan Province, China. The study found average microplastic abundances of nearly 20,000 particles per kilogram, with larger farms primarily contaminated from plastic mulch film while smaller farms received microplastics from diverse non-agricultural sources, and risk assessments identified polyamide and polyphenylene sulfide as priority high-risk polymers.
Microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soils pose risks to human health in their potential accumulation along the food chain, and their characteristics require further understanding to implement targeted measures. This study investigated the MP characteristics in typical mulching soils from different farming scales in Sichuan Province, which is one of China’s key agricultural regions, and it also innovatively measured the ecological risk by incorporating size into assessments. The investigated sites showed average microplastic abundances of 19696.81 ± 13226.89, and these were dominated by small-sized ethylene–propylene copolymer (E/P), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE) particles in yellow-to-brown and black-to-shallow-gray soil. Size-considered evaluation suggested that most of the sites were at a high level of risk. It was found that microplastic pollution varies with farming scales. Larger-scale farming sites primarily received MPs from plastic mulching, while smaller-scale sites were likely affected by a range of non-agricultural sources. The risk assessment showed significant contributions from polyamide (PA) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). These results indicate that environmental management strategies should tailor source control measures according to agricultural scales and prioritize high-risk polymers, as well as that MP risk evaluations should include “size” along with “pollution load” and “chemical composition” to better reflect the impact of MPs on ecosystems.
More Papers Like This
Occurrence of Microplastics from Plastic Fragments in Cultivated Soil of Sichuan Province: The Key Controls
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed plastic fragment contamination in 20 mulched agricultural farmlands across Sichuan Province, China, finding abundances ranging from 50 to 1,158 particles per kilogram. A random forest model identified total mulch film amount, annual precipitation, and planting pattern as the key controls on fragment abundance.
[Distribution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Farmland Soil in Guyuan].
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed microplastic distribution in agricultural soils in Guyuan City, China, finding concentrations ranging from 186 to 1,286 particles per kg, with greenhouse farming soils containing 35–229% more microplastics than open fields and PE and PP being the dominant polymer types. The findings raise concern for food chain contamination and demonstrate that plastic mulch film use in facility agriculture significantly increases soil microplastic accumulation.
Occurrence characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural soils in the loess hilly gully area of Yan' an, China
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastic levels in agricultural soil, water, and fertilizer in a farming region of central China and found an average of about 4,500 particles per kilogram of soil. Over 90% of the particles were smaller than 100 micrometers, and the main types were polyethylene and PET from sources like plastic mulch and compost. The findings show that farming practices are introducing significant microplastic contamination into the soil where food is grown.
The occurrence and distribution characteristics of microplastics in the agricultural soils of Shaanxi Province, in north-western China
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance and polymer types in agricultural soils across multiple counties in Shaanxi Province, northwestern China, finding widespread contamination correlated with agricultural activity intensity and plastic mulch film use.
The characteristics and influencing factors of farmland soil microplastic in Hetao Irrigation District, China
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in farmland soil across a major grain-producing region in China, finding concentrations ranging from about 1,800 to over 86,000 particles per kilogram. Polyethylene film fragments from agricultural plastic mulch were the dominant type, and 90% of the particles were smaller than 180 micrometers. The study shows that farming practices are introducing large amounts of microplastics into the soil where food crops are grown, raising questions about potential transfer into the food supply.
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.