We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic abundance and heavy metal contamination in agricultural soil with the wastewater treatment plants effluent; Tehran, Iran
AI summary Read the abstract
Agricultural soils in Tehran irrigated with treated wastewater contained 29–270 MP items/kg, dominated by polystyrene and polypropylene from plastic mulches, alongside elevated lead, cadmium, and copper concentrations—with MPs themselves carrying adsorbed heavy metals detected by microplastic-AES analysis. The co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in food-producing soils illustrates how plastic pollution acts as a secondary vector for toxic metal contamination, compounding risks to crop safety and human dietary exposure.
The study in Rey County, Tehran, Iran, examined microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu) in agricultural soils. Results show microplastic quantities (29–270 items kg−1), predominantly small particles (100–500 µm), black (42.70%) and white (40.5%) in color, with Polystyrene (PS) and Polypropylene (PP) as dominant polymers from plastic mulches. Soil concentrations of Pb, Cu, and Cd averaged 30.41 mg kg−1, 23.02 mg kg−1, and 4.97 mg kg−1, respectively. Microplastic-AES analysis detected Cu (5.86 mg kg−1), Cd (3.45 mg kg−1). Agricultural activities, especially plastic mulches, contribute significantly to soil contamination, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices in the region.
More Papers Like This
Systematic review of microplastics and heavy metals co-contamination on soils: The triple-chain effects of soil properties, crop responses, and biological communities
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how co-contamination of agricultural soils with microplastics and heavy metals interacts synergistically to exacerbate nutrient deficiencies, increase reactive oxygen species, and stunt plant growth, proposing a three-chain soil-crop-biota framework to reconcile contradictory findings and guide remediation strategies.
Microplastics in Agricultural Soils
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed what is known about microplastic contamination in agricultural soils, noting that despite hundreds of millions of tonnes of plastic entering the environment annually, very little is understood about how microplastics persist, migrate, and affect soil ecosystems. This knowledge gap is concerning given that contaminated soil directly affects food crops consumed by humans.
Navigating The Hidden Crisis: Microplastics And Heavy Metals in Soil- Transport, Impact, and Remediation
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic bits in soil don't just sit there, this review of existing research shows they can team up with toxic heavy metals already in the ground, making those metals up to 30-50% more likely to leach out and get absorbed by crops. That matters because it means the food grown in contaminated soil could carry more heavy metal contamination than previously thought, though scientists still need more real-world data to fully understand the risk to people who eat those crops.
Microplastic Pollution in Agricultural Soils of Lima, Peru
AI summary Read the abstract
The first microplastic survey of agricultural soils in Lima, Peru found contamination at all four sampled sites, with polyethylene and polypropylene spheres under 100 micrometers most prevalent, linked to outdoor washing and contaminated irrigation water. Microplastic pollution in farmland soils is a global issue now confirmed in South America, raising concerns about plastics entering the food supply through crops grown in contaminated soil.
Recent Developments in Extraction, Identification, and Quantification of Microplastics from Agricultural Soil and Groundwater
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed recent advances in extracting, identifying, and quantifying microplastics from agricultural soil and groundwater, highlighting methodological gaps and the urgent need for standardized protocols to accurately assess contamination levels in these critical food-producing environments.
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.