We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of land use on soil microplastic distribution adjacent to Danjiangkou reservoir, China
Summary
Researchers collected 120 soil samples around China's Danjiangkou Reservoir — a major drinking water source — and found microplastics at concentrations ranging from 645 to over 15,000 particles per kilogram. Subsoil layers (20–40 cm deep) contained more microplastics than surface layers, and the number of nearby villages was the strongest predictor of contamination. These findings are significant because reservoir-surrounding soils act as a reservoir for microplastics that can ultimately enter drinking water supplies.
As a new type of pollutant, microplastics (MPs) are an increasingly prominent threat to terrestrial ecosystems. However, the distribution, sources and influencing factors of MPs need to be further studied, especially in reservoir surrounding soil, a hot zone for MPs accumulation and a source of MPs in the watershed. Here, we detected MPs in 120 soil samples collected around Danjiangkou reservoir, with their amount ranging from 645 to 15,161 items/kg. The topsoil layer at 0-20 cm had lower levels of MPs (mean 3989 items/kg) than subsoils at 20-40 cm (mean 5620 items/kg). The most commonly detected types of MPs were polypropylene (26.4%) and polyamide (20.2%), with sizes ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 mm. With regard to shape, most MPs (67.7%) were fragmented, while fibers make up 25.3% of the MPs. Further analysis revealed that the number of villages had the highest driving force for the abundance of MPs with 51%, followed by pH 25% and land use types 10%. The water and sediment of reservoirs are important sources of agricultural soil microplastics. Paddy lands showed higher microplastics levels than orchards and dry croplands. The polymer risk index indicated that the agricultural soil near Danjiangkou reservoir had the highest MPs risk. This study highlights the importance of assessing MPs contamination in the agroecosystems surrounding reservoirs and provides valuable insight into clarify the ecological risks of MPs in the reservoir area.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Anthropogenic activities and hydrologic environment of Danjiangkou Reservoir regulate soil microplastics in the water level fluctuation zone
Researchers conducted large-scale sampling in the water-level fluctuation zone of Danjiangkou Reservoir in China to understand microplastic distribution. They found that microplastic abundance ranged from 144 to 1050 particles per kilogram of soil, with human activities and land use being the primary factors determining contamination levels. The study shows that the reservoir's hydrological environment, including water level changes and flow patterns, plays a key role in redistributing microplastics.
[Distribution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Soil in Danjiangkou Reservoir Area of South-to-North Water Diversion Project].
This study characterized microplastic occurrence in four types of agricultural soil in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area of China — a critical water source for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Orchard soils had higher microplastic concentrations than paddy or dryland soils, driven by plastic mulch use and irrigation. Microplastic contamination of this major water supply raises concerns about downstream drinking water quality for millions of people.
The distribution of microplastics in soil aggregate fractions in southwestern China
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.
Effects of land use on the distribution of soil microplastics in the Lihe River watershed, China
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across five different land use types in a Chinese river watershed. They found that urban soils had the highest microplastic levels, followed by agricultural areas, with woodland having the lowest, and that population density strongly correlated with microplastic diversity. The study suggests that human activity intensity and plastic waste disposal are the main drivers of soil microplastic pollution at the watershed scale.
Effects of soil properties and land use patterns on the distribution of microplastics: A case study in southwest China
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.