We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Relevance of dissolved organic matter components on the adsorption behaviors of cadmium onto non-biodegradable and biodegradable microplastics in an agricultural soil
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that microplastics in agricultural soil — both conventional and biodegradable types — reduce the soil's ability to bind cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, largely by altering organic matter that controls metal mobility. This suggests microplastic contamination could increase cadmium availability in farmland, raising potential food safety concerns.
The role of microplastics (MPs), as vectors for coexisting contaminants, in affecting the adsorption and desorption behavior of cadmium (Cd) by regulating soil properties such as dissolved organic matter (DOM) is still under debate. A 2-month incubation of soil contaminated with different sizes and concentrations of non-biodegradable polyethylene (PE) and three types of biodegradable MPs were conducted. Subsequently, three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) with fluorescence region integration (FRI) analysis of DOM and a batch experiment of Cd behavior on MP-contaminated soils were further conducted. Soil properties such as pH, ammonium nitrogen, and urease activity were significantly affected by MP properties. 3D-EEM analysis indicated that the microbial by-product substances and the humic acid–like substances were the major components of DOM in MP-contaminated soil, accounting for approximately 50%. Overall, Cd adsorption was decreased by higher MP concentration and larger size, and PE-contaminated soils had similar or higher adsorption capacities than soil with biodegradable MPs. MPs can decrease in Cd adsorption and increase in Cd desorption when compared to the control. Both the Langmuir and Freundlich models fitted well with Cd adsorption and desorption isotherms. Correlation analysis confirmed that the characteristics of DOM, such as the humification index values and major components, rather than other soil properties, contributed more to the adsorption behaviors of Cd on MP-contaminated soils. Addition of MPs could mitigate soil Cd adsorption capacity, mainly due to the changes of soil DOM characteristics, which will enhance the mobility and risks of Cd to agricultural soil.
More Papers Like This
Polypropylene microplastics alter the cadmium adsorption capacity on different soil solid fractions
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that polypropylene microplastics reduce soil's ability to bind the toxic heavy metal cadmium, with the effect varying by soil composition and microplastic aging — suggesting that microplastic contamination could indirectly increase the risk of heavy metals leaching into groundwater.
Enhanced Adsorption of Cadmium onto Microplastics Derived from Polyethylene Mulching Film by Weathering
AI summary Read the abstract
Weathered polyethylene microplastics from agricultural mulch film showed more than four times greater adsorption capacity for cadmium ions compared to pristine particles, driven by increased surface roughness and oxygen-containing functional groups that develop during environmental aging. Because weathered microplastics are far more common in real environments than pristine particles, this finding significantly elevates the estimated risk of microplastics acting as vectors for heavy metal transport in contaminated soils and water.
A potential threat from biodegradable microplastics: mechanism of cadmium adsorption and desorption in the simulated gastrointestinal environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Laboratory experiments found that biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics adsorb significant amounts of cadmium, and simulated gastrointestinal digestion dramatically increased cadmium bioaccessibility — 19% released in the gastric phase and 62% in the intestinal phase — far exceeding conventional PP and PA microplastics. This indicates that biodegradable plastics marketed as environmentally safer alternatives may pose heightened risks as heavy metal vectors in the human gut, challenging assumptions about their safety.
Adsorption Performance and Mechanism of Naturally Aged Polyethylene(PE) Microplastics on Cadmium Ions (Cd2+) in Water
AI summary Read the abstract
River-aged polyethylene microplastics showed increased surface roughness, altered functional groups, and enhanced adsorption capacity for cadmium ions compared to pristine particles, with aging duration influencing both the kinetics and isotherms of metal binding. These results confirm that environmental weathering transforms microplastics into more effective heavy metal carriers, increasing the risk of combined plastic-metal toxicity in aquatic ecosystems and food chains.
Interactive behavior of cadmium ions onto polyethylene microplastics in aquatic system
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how polyethylene microplastics absorb and release cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in freshwater conditions, finding that acidic environments can cause near-complete release of cadmium back into the water. This raises concern that microplastics carrying heavy metals could deliver those toxins to aquatic organisms through their digestive systems.
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.