We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Adsorption Behaviors of Cadmium Regulated by Microplastics Properties in a Forest Soil
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics and cadmium (a toxic heavy metal) frequently pollute forest soils together, and this study examined how different types, sizes, and concentrations of microplastics affect cadmium's behavior in soil. Biodegradable plastics like PBS and PBA adsorbed and released more cadmium than conventional polyethylene, and microplastics altered the soil's organic matter in ways that influenced how cadmium moved and became available to organisms. These findings matter because co-contamination by microplastics and heavy metals in soils may compound environmental and food-chain risks beyond what either pollutant causes alone.
Co-contamination of microplastics (MPs) and cadmium (Cd) has attracted attentions in forest soils due to their complex behaviors and ecological risks. This study investigates the interactions between MPs and Cd, focusing on effects of different types (polyethylene: PE, polybutylene succinate: PBS, poly-11-bromoundecyl acrylate: PBA), sizes (75-150 and 150-300 μm) and concentrations (1% and 10%) of MPs on soil properties. Results showed that MPs significantly influence contents of soil dissolved organic carbon and available nitrogen, while increased MPs concentrations reduced the dissolved organic matter (DOM) availability and decomposition. Adsorption and desorption of Cd were higher in biodegradable MPs (PBS and PBA), with the Freundlich model providing a better fit for Cd adsorption. Pearson correlation and redundancy analysis identified soil DOM, number of humic-like substances, and microbial by-products as key factors influencing Cd behavior. These findings contribute to understanding risks of co-contamination by MPs and heavy metals in forest soils.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in soils with contrasting texture, organic carbon and mineralogy: changes in cadmium adsorption forms and their mobility in soil columns
AI summary Read the abstract
This study investigated how high-density polyethylene microplastics alter the behavior of cadmium — a toxic heavy metal — in soils with different textures, organic carbon contents, and mineral compositions. Using soil column experiments, researchers found that microplastics changed how cadmium binds to soil particles and how easily it leaches downward, with effects varying depending on the soil type and microplastic particle size. Since cadmium is a known carcinogen and agricultural soils commonly contain both microplastics and heavy metals, understanding their interactions is critical for food safety.
Effect of Microplastics on the Adsorption and Desorption Properties of Cadmium in Soil
AI summary Read the abstract
Polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics were found to reduce soil's capacity to adsorb cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, raising concerns that microplastic contamination in farmland soils could increase the mobility and risk of heavy metal pollutants.
Microplastics impair cadmium adsorption in soils via changes in dissolved organic matter and Fe/Mn oxides
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics in soil—especially the "biodegradable" and weathered kind—make it harder for soil to trap toxic cadmium, allowing more of it to move around freely instead of staying locked in place. This matters because cadmium is a harmful heavy metal that crops can absorb from soil, so more mobile cadmium could mean more of it ending up in the food we eat. The findings suggest that even "eco-friendly" plastics may create hidden risks by changing soil chemistry in ways that let contaminants spread more easily.
Changes in the spectroscopic response of soil organic matters by PBAT microplastics regulated the Cd adsorption behaviors in different soils
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a 60-day incubation experiment using PBAT microplastics at different sizes and doses in farmland and woodland soils to examine how MPs alter dissolved organic matter (DOM) and cadmium adsorption behavior. PBAT modified DOM composition and fluorescence properties in soil-type-dependent ways, and these DOM changes in turn regulated how much cadmium the soils could adsorb.
Enhanced Cadmium Adsorption Dynamics in Water and Soil by Polystyrene Microplastics and Biochar
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics and biochar interact with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in water and soil systems. They found that particle size significantly influenced how much cadmium was adsorbed, with the combination of microplastics and biochar creating complex dynamics that affected metal mobility. The findings matter because microplastics in agricultural soils may alter how toxic metals move through the environment and into food crops.
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.