We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Impact of microplastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystem on index and engineering properties of sandy soil: An experimental investigation
Summary
Researchers tested how different concentrations of three common plastic types affect the physical and engineering properties of sandy soil. They found that increasing microplastic contamination significantly altered soil characteristics including liquid limit, plasticity, compaction, and shear strength. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution in the ground could potentially compromise the structural stability of soil used in construction and land management.
Sandy soils cover a major portion of various natural and managed ecosystems. Soil health plays a key role in achieving sustainable development goals 2, 3,11, 12, 13 and 15. The engineering properties of soil are crucial in determining the stability and safety of structures. The increasing microplastic contamination in the soil ecosystem creates a need to study the effect of terrestrial microplastic contamination on the strength and stability of soil and therefore on the index properties and engineering properties of the soil. The present paper investigates, the effects of varying concentrations (2 %,4 %,6 % (w/w)) of Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and High-density polyethylene (HDPE) microplastics on the index properties and engineering properties of sandy soil for varying observation days. The moisture content, specific gravity, shear strength, compaction characteristics and permeability are found to be significantly altered by changing the concentrations of microplastics but, insignificant changes are observed with respect to observation days. The shear strength value of non-contaminated sandy soil is 1.74 kg/cm which reduces after 5th observation days as 0.85 kg/cm, 0.90 kg/cm, and 0.91 kg/cm for 2 %, 4 %, and 6 % LDPE microplastic contamination respectively. Similar trends are observed for PVC and HDPE microplastic contamination. It is also observed that although the shear strength value decreases, the cohesion value increases for the microplastics-contaminated sandy soil. The coefficient of permeability for non-contaminated sample is 0.0004 m/s which reduces for 2 % LDPE microplastic contamination to 0.000319 m/s, for 4 % to 0.000217 m/s, and 6 % to 0.000208 m/s respectively. Similar trends of are observed for the PVC and HDPE microplastic contamination. The soil strength and structural stability are affected due to alterations in soil index and engineering properties. The paper provides detailed experimental evidence of the impact of microplastic pollution on index properties and engineering properties of sandy soil.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Impact of microplastics on strength parameters of clayey, Sandy, silty soil: A comparative assessment
Researchers conducted a comparative study examining how three types of microplastics at different concentrations affect the strength properties of sandy, silty, and clayey soils over a 30-day period. They found that LDPE, HDPE, and PVC contamination at environmentally relevant levels altered key soil properties including moisture content, density, and shear strength. The study highlights that microplastic pollution could compromise soil structural integrity, with implications for construction and geotechnical engineering.
Geotechnical Implications of Microplastics: A Review of Their Effects on Soil Mechanical Parameters
This review compiled and analyzed findings from previous studies on how microplastics affect soil mechanical parameters — including compressibility, permeability, shear strength, settlement, and slope stability — concluding that microplastic contamination can substantially alter geotechnical soil behavior with implications for engineering and construction.
Geotechnical Implications of Microplastics: A Review of Their Effects on Soil Mechanical Parameters
This review compiled and analyzed findings from previous studies on how microplastics affect soil mechanical parameters — including compressibility, permeability, shear strength, settlement, and slope stability — concluding that microplastic contamination can substantially alter geotechnical soil behavior with implications for engineering and construction.
Microplastics Can Change Soil Properties and Affect Plant Performance
Researchers tested six different types of microplastics in soil and found that they altered key soil properties including water-holding capacity, bulk density, and microbial activity. These changes in soil structure had cascading effects on plant growth, with some microplastic types reducing above-ground biomass. The study demonstrates that microplastics can fundamentally change how soil functions, with consequences for plant health and ecosystem stability.
Effect of low-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and high-density polyethylene micro-plastic contamination on the index and engineering properties of clayey soil- an experimental study
Researchers examined how low-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and high-density polyethylene microplastics affect the index and engineering properties of clayey soil, finding that microplastic contamination alters soil behavior relevant to geotechnical engineering.