We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Migration of Nanoplastic in Soil: Effects of Polymer Properties and Rainfall Conditions
Summary
Researchers investigated the vertical migration of nanoplastics in soil under simulated rainfall, examining how polymer type, concentration, aging, rainfall duration, and pH affect transport behavior. Rainfall promoted nanoplastic entry and retention in upper soil layers, with long-term rainfall driving gradual migration to deeper layers, and nanoplastic mobility found to be inversely related to particle concentration.
The pervasive presence of nanoplastics (NPs) in the soil environment has been widely documented. However, the mechanisms governing their transport through soil remain poorly understood. This study investigated the migration and vertical distribution of NPs under simulated rainfall, examining the effects of NP properties (concentration, polymer type, aging) and rainfall conditions (duration, pH). The results demonstrated that rainfall facilitated the entry and retention of NPs in soil, with long-term rainfall promoting gradual migration to deeper layers or groundwater. NP mobility was inversely related to their contamination levels. Lower concentrations enhanced downward transport, while higher concentrations led to preferential retention in the topsoil. Due to its hydrophilicity, polyamide (PA) exhibits greater mobility in soil than hydrophobic polystyrene (PS). Both UV aging and acidic rainfall conditions inhibited the migration of NPs, which increased their long-term retention in soil, thereby elevating ecological risk. These results highlight the need for increased attention to the risk of groundwater contamination posed by hydrophilic NPs following long-term rainfall, as well as the threat posed by hydrophobic NPs, particularly after aging and under acidic rainfall conditions, to soil organisms and food safety. Our findings provide critical insights for assessing NP risks in soil environments.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Size/shape-dependent migration of microplastics in agricultural soil under simulative and natural rainfall
Researchers found that microplastic migration in agricultural soil under rainfall depends on particle size and shape, with smaller particles moving deeper and rainfall intensity significantly influencing vertical transport patterns in soil profiles.
Aging Significantly Affects Mobility and Contaminant-Mobilizing Ability of Nanoplastics in Saturated Loamy Sand
Researchers studied how aging from UV light and ozone exposure affects the mobility of nanoplastics in soil and found that aged particles traveled much farther through the soil column than pristine ones. The aged nanoplastics also carried more chemical contaminants with them as they moved. The findings suggest that weathered nanoplastics in the environment may pose greater risks for groundwater contamination than previously assumed.
Nanoplastic Particle Mobility in Agricultural Soils: A Risk for Groundwater Contamination Amplified by Changing Rainfall Patterns
Researchers used an innovative gold-core nanoplastic tracer method in a lysimeter setup to determine that 92 nm nanoplastic particles can migrate through agricultural soils and reach groundwater systems, with counterintuitively higher mobility found in fine-grained clayey soils than in coarse sandy soils. The study identifies changing rainfall patterns as an amplifying factor for nanoplastic groundwater contamination risk.
Microplastic polymer type impacts water infiltration and its own transport in soil
Researchers conducted laboratory soil column experiments to examine how microplastic polymer type affects both water infiltration rates and the transport of the plastic particles themselves through soil, testing the two most commonly used agricultural microplastic types under controlled hydrological conditions. The study found that polymer type significantly influenced both water flow dynamics and microplastic mobility in soil, with important implications for predicting plastic fate in agricultural and natural terrestrial ecosystems.
Microplastic fate in soil environments: Drivers of the vertical transport of mulching film fragments
This study examined the vertical transport and fate of microplastics in soil environments, focusing on particles generated from the degradation of plastic mulch films used in agriculture. Multiple drivers including soil structure, rainfall, and particle properties were shown to influence how deeply microplastics migrate through the soil profile.