Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Sign in to save

Driving factors and sources of microplastics in soils in the Yellow River source area

Environmental Pollution 2025 3 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 58 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, H B Li, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, H B Li, H B Li, H B Li, H B Li, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, H B Li, H B Li, Yuxuan Xue, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, H B Li, Sansan Feng, Hongwei Lu, Hongwei Lu, Xiaohan Zhang, Hongwei Lu, Hongwei Lu, Hongwei Lu, Sansan Feng, Yuxuan Xue, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Sansan Feng, Yuxuan Xue, Yuxuan Xue, Yuxuan Xue, Yuxuan Xue, Yuxuan Xue, Yuxuan Xue, Yuxuan Xue, Pengdong Yan H B Li, Sansan Feng, H B Li, H B Li, Xiaohan Zhang, Xiaohan Zhang, Chaodong Zhou, Pengdong Yan Xiaohan Zhang, H B Li, H B Li, H B Li, Chaodong Zhou, Yuxuan Xue, Pengdong Yan H B Li, Xiaohan Zhang, Xiaohan Zhang, Xiaohan Zhang, H B Li, Xiaohan Zhang, Xiaohan Zhang, Xiaohan Zhang, Pengdong Yan Pengdong Yan

Summary

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in soils across the remote Yellow River source region on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. They found that even in this sparsely populated area, microplastics were present at an average of about 75 particles per kilogram of soil, primarily from tourism, traffic, and grazing activities. The study reveals that human activities introduce microplastics to even the most remote plateau environments, with roadside dust and atmospheric transport being major pathways.

Polymers

Body Systems

Reproductive

Study Type Environmental

Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in various environments worldwide, they pose a serious threat to ecosystems. As a typical remote area, the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) has a sophisticated road system. However, the contributions of anthropogenic and natural factors to MP accumulation in remote plateau regions remain unclear. Here, we investigated the distribution, driving factors, and main sources of MPs in the source area of Yellow River on the QTP. MPs in soil showed an average abundance of (75.39 ± 49.16) items/kg, which was approximately 1-10 lower than that in the lower sections of Yellow River. Film, transparent color, and polyethylene were the common shapes, colors, and polymers, respectively. Under different land uses, MP abundance was remarkably higher in nonagricultural soils than in farmland. The influencing factors, source analysis on the basis of MP characteristics, and statistical analysis (redundancy analysis and structural equation modeling) showed that MP abundance was influenced by nonagricultural activities (tourism, traffic, and grazing). Utilizing the conditional fragmentation model, we further revealed that MP abundance in the upstream and downstream regions was related to roadside dust (traffic) and atmospheric dust. It was associated with human activities, including plastic packaging waste from tourism and herdsmen, in the midstream region. Moreover, MPs in farmland were related to local sources (fertilizers). These results provide valuable information on MP distribution in headstream areas and thus contribute to controlling potential MP pollution on the QTP.

Read via DOI PubMed

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email