Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Sign in to save

Continents of plastics: An estimate of the stock of microplastics in agricultural soils

The Science of The Total Environment 2023 119 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Marion Yvin, Maialen Palazot, Maialen Palazot, Maialen Palazot, Maialen Palazot, Stéphane Bruzaud, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Marion Yvin, Marion Yvin, Maialen Palazot Maialen Palazot Maialen Palazot Maialen Palazot Marion Yvin, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Stéphane Bruzaud, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Maialen Palazot, Maialen Palazot, Maialen Palazot, Maialen Palazot, Delphine Cirederf-Boulant, Delphine Cirederf-Boulant, Delphine Cirederf-Boulant, Delphine Cirederf-Boulant, Maialen Palazot Maialen Palazot Maialen Palazot Maialen Palazot Delphine Cirederf-Boulant, Delphine Cirederf-Boulant, Delphine Cirederf-Boulant, Delphine Cirederf-Boulant, Maialen Palazot Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Maialen Palazot Kedzierski, Mikaël, Maialen Palazot, Maialen Palazot, Maialen Palazot, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Maialen Palazot, Maialen Palazot, Maialen Palazot Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Marion Yvin, Marion Yvin, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Marion Yvin, Marion Yvin, Stéphane Bruzaud, Maialen Palazot Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Maialen Palazot, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Stéphane Bruzaud, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Stéphane Bruzaud, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Stéphane Bruzaud, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Stéphane Bruzaud, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Maialen Palazot Kedzierski, Mikaël, Maialen Palazot, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Stéphane Bruzaud, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Stéphane Bruzaud, Kedzierski, Mikaël, Maialen Palazot, Maialen Palazot

Summary

Researchers estimated for the first time the total amount of microplastics in the world's agricultural soils, finding between 1.5 and 6.6 million tonnes globally. This is one to two orders of magnitude higher than the estimated amount floating on the ocean surface. The study highlights that farmland, especially in regions using plastic mulch and sewage sludge as fertilizer, may be a larger reservoir of microplastic pollution than the oceans.

Study Type Environmental

While there are estimates of the stock of microplastics in the marine environment, there are no estimates for soils. The main objective of this work is to estimate the total mass of microplastics in global agricultural soils. Microplastic abundance data from 442 sampling sites were collected from 43 articles. From these, the median of the abundance values, as well as the abundance profile of microplastics in soils were calculated. Thus, 1.5 to 6.6 Mt of microplastics would be present in soils on a global scale, i.e. one to two orders of magnitude higher than the estimated ocean surface microplastic stock. However, many limitations exist to accurately calculate these stocks. This work should therefore be considered as a first step in addressing this question. In the long term, in order to better assess this stock, it seems important to obtain more diversified data, e.g. better representing certain countries, or certain land uses.

Read via DOI PubMed Download PDF

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email