We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Occurrence, sources, and risks of microplastics in agricultural soils of Weishan Irrigation District in the lower reaches of the Yellow River, China
Summary
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across the Weishan Irrigation District in China's Yellow River region, finding an average of 500 to 900 particles per kilogram of soil depending on land use type. Most particles were small films, fibers, and fragments, primarily made of polyethylene, likely originating from irrigation water, organic fertilizers, and plastic agricultural materials. The study found that assessing ecological risk based on specific microplastic characteristics revealed higher danger levels than looking at total particle counts alone.
Microplastics (MPs) have been widely detected in the soil environment. The Weishan Irrigation District is the largest irrigation area in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. However, little is known about MP pollution levels in the soils of this area. Forty-two soil samples, two water samples, and two organic fertilizer samples were collected to study the occurrence and sources of MP in the soils of four land use types. Different characteristics of MP were integrated to trace the sources of MP in soils and ecological risks associated with specific MP characteristics were evaluated. The average abundances of MPs in the soils of vegetable fields, crop fields, orchard fields, and woodlands were 900, 512, 615, and 633 items/kg, respectively. MPs were predominantly 0.2-1 mm in size (> 78 %), primarily blue/purple and transparent in color (> 60 %), mainly film, fiber, and fragment in shape (> 78 %), and mostly polyethylene in polymer type (> 36 %). Irrigation water, organic fertilizers, and plastic inputs are the major sources. Ecological risks based on MPs with specific characteristics were higher than those based on total MP. The source-based strategies developed are helpful to the prevention and control of MP pollution in irrigation districts.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Distribution, sources and multi-dimensional environmental risk assessment of microplastics in soils and groundwater along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow river
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in both soil and groundwater along the middle and lower reaches of China's Yellow River. They found soil concentrations ranging from 426 to over 3,000 particles per kilogram, with fibers being the dominant shape in both soil and groundwater. A novel risk assessment approach revealed that while soil contamination was mostly moderate, nearly a quarter of groundwater samples reached high-risk levels.
Occurrence characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural soils in the loess hilly gully area of Yan' an, China
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.
Vertical distribution and multi-source pathways of microplastics in agricultural soils: A study of typical irrigation areas in the upper Yellow River basin
Researchers found that farmland soil in the upper Yellow River region contained significantly more microplastics than nearby forest or grassland, with plastics detected in all soil layers down to one meter deep. Flood-style irrigation pushed microplastics much deeper into the ground than drip irrigation, doubling contamination levels. This is concerning because microplastics migrating deep into agricultural soil could eventually reach groundwater that people depend on for drinking water.
The characteristics and influencing factors of farmland soil microplastic in Hetao Irrigation District, China
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.
Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in the adjacent environment of Yellow River Delta, China
Researchers assessed microplastic pollution across water, sediment, and soil samples in the Yellow River Delta of China. The study found microplastic concentrations ranging from 0.5 to nearly 8 particles per liter in water and up to 4,200 particles per kilogram in sediments, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common polymer types, indicating widespread plastic contamination in this coastal environment.