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Environmental Sources
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First national reference of microplastic contamination of French soils
The Science of The Total Environment2024
34 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 55
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Researchers established the first nationwide reference data for microplastic contamination in French soils by analyzing 33 samples from diverse land uses across the country. They found microplastics in virtually all samples, with agricultural and urban soils showing the highest concentrations, and identified polyethylene and polypropylene as the most common polymer types. The study provides an important baseline for tracking future soil contamination trends in France.
The recent emergence of studies on plastic contamination of terrestrial environments has revealed the presence of microplastics (MP) in a variety of soil types, from the most densely populated areas to the most remote ones. However, the concentrations and chemical natures of MP in soils vary between studies, and only a few ones have focused on this issue in France. The MICROSOF project aimed to establish the first national references for French soil contamination by microplastics. 33 soil samples randomly chosen on the French soil quality-monitoring network were analyzed. The study collected data on the abundance of microplastics in the [315-5000] μm range, their chemical nature and size, as well as mass abundance estimates and other relevant information. Results demonstrated that 76 % of the soil samples contained microplastics, in concentrations ranging from <6.7 to 80 MP.kg (dry soil). Most samples from croplands, grasslands and vineyards and orchards were contaminated, whereas only one sample from forest contained MP, suggesting an increased risk of microplastic contamination in soils exposed to agricultural practices. The MP abundances are not statistically different from similar studies, indicating an intermediate level of contamination in French soils. Despite intervention reports and surveys, the sources remain unclear at this stage. For the first time, an overview of the state of soil contamination in France, as well as the potential risks is provided.