Non-destructive identification of microplastics in soil using spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging

Influence of soil types defined by soil genesis on the qualitative and quantitative detection of microplastics in soil by mid-infrared spectroscopy

Classification of biodegradable microplastics in soil using short-wave infrared hyperspectral imaging and machine learning: a laboratory-based proof-of-concept study

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A machine learning approach using short-wave infrared hyperspectral imaging achieved up to 95.98% accuracy in classifying both biodegradable and conventional microplastics in soil matrices without physical destruction of samples. Rapid, non-destructive detection methods like this are essential for monitoring the growing presence of biodegradable microplastics in agricultural soils as these materials are more widely adopted.

Review of microplastics in soils: state-of-the-art occurrence, transport, and investigation methods

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This review synthesizes sampling, pretreatment, and analytical methods for detecting microplastics in soil environments, noting that research has largely focused on contamination levels rather than behavioral dynamics and ecological impacts. The authors call for standardized testing protocols and predictive behavior models as microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils increasingly threatens food safety and ecosystem health.

Microplastics in Terrestrial Soils: Occurrence, Analysis, and Remediation

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Researchers reviewed how microplastics from synthetic polymers have spread throughout terrestrial soils globally, examining detection methods and emerging remediation strategies for a pollutant that now persists in farmlands and natural soils alike.

Methods of soil sampling for microplastic analysis: a review

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This review evaluates methods for soil microplastic sampling, finding that random sampling designs, stainless steel tools, and topsoil collection to 30 cm depth are most appropriate, while micro-FTIR analysis can work with samples as small as 15 g per point. Standardizing soil sampling protocols is a prerequisite for generating reliable data on microplastic contamination levels in agricultural and natural soils where human food is grown.