We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Impact of land use and other parameters on the presence of microplastics in soil and ground water
Original title: Impact of land use and other parameters on the presence of microplastics in soil and ground water
AI summary Read the abstract
A Spanish-language review synthesized findings from 41 studies on microplastic contamination in soil and groundwater, identifying a clear link between land use type and microplastic presence while highlighting the near-total absence of standardized sampling and analytical methods across studies. Groundwater microplastic research remains especially sparse despite the direct drinking-water implications. The authors call for regulatory threshold limits for microplastics in soil and groundwater to enable risk-based management of contaminated sites.
Los microplásticos (MP) constituyen una de las formas de contaminación más omnipresentes en nuestro planeta. Pese a ello, en comparación con los ecosistemas marinos, lagos o ríos, destaca la escasez de estudios que han tratado sobre su presencia en el suelo y en las aguas subterráneas. Con el objetivo de evaluar el impacto de los usos del suelo sobre la presencia de MP en ambos medios, se han extraído, de la revisión de 41 publicaciones, 56 casos asociados a suelos y 7 casos a aguas subterráneas. En conjunto, se pone de manifiesto la necesidad de establecer una metodología estandarizada, tanto analítica como de muestreo, con el fin de poder realizar comparaciones rigurosas. Por otra parte, queda patente en la mayor parte de las publicaciones revisadas una relación entre la presencia de MP y las fuentes de contaminación (puntuales y/o difusas) asociadas a los usos del suelo. Por ello, es fundamental seguir investigando sobre la presencia de MP en suelos asociados a la totalidad de usos —dado que hasta ahora se ha observado un predominio claro de estudio hacia los de uso agrícola—, considerar ciertos parámetros fundamentales y enfatizar la investigación sobre la presencia de MP en las aguas subterráneas. Además, se antoja fundamental fijar cuanto antes unos umbrales, e incorporarlos a la legislación, a partir de los cuales ponderar si la presencia de MP en los suelos o las aguas subterráneas asociadas a un emplazamiento pueden suponer un riesgo para la salud humana o la protección de los ecosistemas.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in soil: A comprehensive review of occurrence, sources, fate, analytical techniques and potential impacts
AI summary Read the abstract
This review analyzed microplastic contamination data from 62 sites across 17 countries and found that soil microplastic levels varied enormously depending on land use, with agricultural and urban soils most contaminated. The plastics affected soil organisms, plants, and microorganisms in complex ways, but inconsistent sampling methods across studies make it difficult to compare results and determine safe exposure thresholds.
Global soil microplastic assessment in different land-use systems is largely determined by the method of analysis: A meta-analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
This meta-analysis pooled data from 89 studies to measure microplastic levels in soils across different land uses worldwide. A key finding is that reported microplastic concentrations vary wildly depending on the testing method used, making it hard to compare studies. This highlights that before we can truly understand how much microplastic is in the soil that grows our food, scientists need to agree on standardized measurement methods.
Microplastics in soils: a review of possible sources, analytical methods and ecological impacts
AI summary Read the abstract
This review of over 60 studies examines the sources, global distribution, and analytical methods for microplastics in soil, finding that agricultural soils are particularly contaminated via sewage sludge application, plastic mulch, and atmospheric deposition. The authors call for standardized extraction and identification protocols to enable cross-study comparisons.
Contaminación del suelo por microplásticos: panorama actual
AI summary Read the abstract
This review provides a comprehensive overview of current soil contamination by microplastics, covering sources, distribution patterns, and ecological consequences. The authors synthesize evidence on how microplastics accumulate in agricultural and natural soils and interact with soil organisms and chemistry. The paper calls attention to significant knowledge gaps and the need for standardized monitoring frameworks.
Microplastic in Soil: a Review of Detection Methods
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines published approaches for detecting and identifying microplastics in soil environments, synthesizing sampling, extraction, and characterization methods to address the lack of standardization that hinders cross-study comparisons. Researchers found that unifying detection methods is essential for developing a common understanding of microplastic prevalence and impact in terrestrial ecosystems.
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.