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Influence of polymer age and soil aggregation on microplastic transport in soil erosion events
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Researchers compared the transport rates of pristine and aged polystyrene microplastics during simulated rainfall events and quantified their incorporation into soil aggregates across multiple wet-dry cycles, providing the first empirical data on how surface roughness and hydrophobicity changes from weathering affect MP mobility in soil erosion.
The transport of microplastics within and across terrestrial ecosystems is a critical factor controlling plastic pollution in the environment. However, our understanding of these transport processes remains extremely limited. Particular uncertainty surrounds how the changes driven by aging of plastics, for example in surface roughness or hydrophobicity, affect polymer transport. In this study we compare the rate of transportation of pristine and aged polystyrene microplastics in a simulated rainfall event providing the first empirical data describing these processes. Additionally, we quantified the proportion of both aged and pristine microplastics incorporated into soil aggregates after several wet-dry cycles and the influence wet-dry cycles had on microplastic mobilization. The results from this study will provide critical insights into the influence of polymer age on microplastic mobility and retention in terrestrial environments.
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Impact of microplastic types and aging degrees on the transport behavior of marine oil spills
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The transport behavior of microplastics through soil was found to vary significantly based on both the type of plastic polymer and the degree of aging (weathering), with aged particles generally showing different mobility than virgin ones. This means predictions of microplastic spread in soils must account for the weathering state of the particles.
Environmental Impact of Aging on Transport of MP in Soil Ecosystem: Pathway to Achieving the Sustainability Goals
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This laboratory study examined how "aged" microplastics, which have undergone chemical changes, move through different soil types compared to fresh microplastics. Results showed aged microplastics were more likely to stay trapped in soil, especially sandy soil and under fast water flow, due to changes in their surface properties.
Chemical and photo-initiated aging enhances transport risk of microplastics in saturated soils: Key factors, mechanisms, and modeling
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Researchers aged polystyrene microplastics using three oxidation methods and then studied their transport through saturated soil columns, finding that aging significantly increased surface hydrophilicity and mobility, with UV-activated persulfate oxidation producing the most mobile particles.
Effects of microplastic aging on its detectability and physico-chemical properties in loess and sandy soil
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This study compared fresh microplastics to aged particles collected from soil and found that weathering significantly changes their physical and chemical properties, including making them more mobile. Aged microplastics may behave very differently in the environment than the pristine particles typically used in laboratory studies.
Microplastic alteration in agricultural soils across Europe: Comparative study of MPs inside and outside soil aggregates over two years
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Researchers tracked microplastic aging inside and outside soil aggregates in European agricultural soils over two years, comparing fields in multiple countries. Microplastics enclosed within aggregates showed less physicochemical aging than surface-exposed particles, suggesting that aggregate formation can temporarily protect plastics from degradation and prolong their persistence in soil.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.