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The Re-distribution of Pristine and Aged Microplastics (<50 µm) in Soil Aggregate Fractions
Summary
Researchers investigated how pristine and aged microplastics smaller than 50 micrometers redistribute among soil aggregate fractions during aggregation in two soil textures amended with organic matter, finding that aggregate formation actively partitions microplastics in ways influenced by soil texture and particle aging.
Soil aggregates play a pivotal role in soil organic carbon dynamics and microbial activity. However, their influence on the pressing issue of microplastic (MP) contamination in soils remains poorly understood. This lack of attention may be attributed to the inherent complexity and heterogeneity of soil, which renders plastic isolation and identification in soil is particularly challenging. This study aims to investigate MPs redistribution among soil aggregate fractions during the process of soil aggregation. Two soil textures (silt loam and sandy loam) were amended with organic matter (OM) to promote aggregation during a two-month incubation period, with 0.1 % microplastics powder added to the soils. A self-made pristine and aged LDPE and PET microplastics (