0
Article Tier 2 Environmental Sources Food & Water Sign in to save

The occurrence and distributions characteristics of microplastics in soils of different land use patterns in Karst Plateau, Southwest China

The Science of The Total Environment 2023 38 citations

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across five different land use types in a karst mountainous region of southwest China. The study found that all soil types were polluted with microplastics, with garden land showing the highest average abundance at 4,200 particles per kilogram, and that land use patterns and crop types influenced the characteristics and concentrations of microplastic contamination.

Microplastics (MPs) in soils have attracted attention worldwide. However, there are few studies on the abundance and morphological characteristics of MPs under different land use patterns in karst areas. In this work, the distribution characteristics of MPs in soils from five different land use patterns, including industrial mining warehouse (IW), cropland (CL), forest land (FL), grassland (GL), and garden land (GP) in karst mountainous areas of southwest China were investigated. The results suggested that soils in Karst Plateau of Guizhou province under different land use patterns have all been polluted by MPs. The average microplastic abundances of IW, CL, FL, GL, and GP were 3114, 2948, 2770, 2718, and 4200 item kg. In the GP and GL soils, foam was the dominant form of MPs (47.53 % and 45.92 %), with pellet MPs accounting for the smallest proportion, while in IW, CL, and FL soils showed the opposite result. The MPs in all soil samples were dominated by small particles (0-0.5 mm), and the main components were PE, PP, PVC, and PET. Meanwhile, the characteristics of MPs in CL soils varied depending on the planted crops. The average abundances of soil microplastics in farmlands planted with corn, pepper, cabbage, watermelon, and other crops were 2504, 2792, 2987, 2370, and 3655 item kg . We suggested that land use pattern and crop type may influence karst soil microplastic contamination. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for understanding and controlling the distribution, degradation, and migration of MP pollution in karst regions.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Effects of soil properties and land use patterns on the distribution of microplastics: A case study in southwest China

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in soils across different land use types in Guizhou Province, southwest China. The study found that soil properties and land use patterns significantly influence microplastic abundance and distribution, with agricultural and urban soils generally showing higher contamination levels than less intensively managed areas.

Article Tier 2

Distinct microplastic distributions in soils of different land-use types: A case study of Chinese farmlands

AI summary Read the abstract

Microplastic distribution across six types of farmland land use was surveyed from soils in five Chinese provinces to determine how agricultural practices shape soil microplastic contamination. The study found that microplastic abundance varied significantly by land-use type, with plastic mulch film use and irrigation practices as key contributing factors.

Article Tier 2

Effects of land use and landscape on the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in soil, China

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers investigated how land use patterns affect microplastic contamination in soils across different agricultural, orchard, grassland, and woodland areas in Yunnan Province, China. Agricultural lands, especially those with greenhouses and traditional farming, had significantly higher microplastic levels than grasslands and woodlands, with fragments being the dominant shape. The study suggests that farming practices, including plastic mulch use and fertilizer application, are major contributors to soil microplastic pollution.

Article Tier 2

Impact of soil structure and texture on occurrence of microplastics in agricultural soils of karst areas

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers found that soil texture is the dominant factor influencing microplastic abundance in karst agricultural soils in China, with powdered-light clay soils harboring the highest contamination at nearly 3,000 particles per kilogram.

Article Tier 2

The distribution of microplastics in soil aggregate fractions in southwestern China

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers investigated microplastic distribution across different soil types in agricultural and forested areas near a lake in southwestern China and found plastic particles in every sample, with concentrations as high as 42,960 particles per kilogram. Approximately 95% of the particles fell within the microplastic size range, and fibers were the dominant form, likely originating from textiles and agricultural materials. The study demonstrates that microplastic contamination in soils is extensive and varies with land use practices.

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.

Email me about

Share this paper