We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
National-scale distribution of micro(meso)plastics in farmland soils across China: Implications for environmental impacts
AI summary Read the abstract
Farmland soils across 30 sites in China contained an average of 358 microplastic items/kg, with concentrations higher in arid northern regions; meta-analysis showed that while current soil levels are generally below minimum effective concentrations for harming crops and soil enzymes, they are approaching those thresholds.
Microplastics (MPs) pollution is increasingly appreciated as a significant environmental issue, however, the large-scale pattern of MPs in farmland soils and its associated environmental impacts are unknown. This study investigated a national-scale distribution of micro(meso)plastics (MMPs) in the soil of 30 farmlands across China. The abundance of MMPs in soils was 25.56-2067.78 items kg, with a mean of 358.37 items kg, i.e. 6.79 mg kg or 0.0007% after mass conversion. MPs accounted for 93.1% of MMPs, the abundance varied greatly among different regions, high in arid or semi-arid north but relatively low in mild southwest regions. Major MPs included polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyester, tending to decrease in abundance from surface to deeper soil layers. Further, meta-analysis revealed that MPs exposure influenced bulk density, soil enzymes including fluorescein diacetate hydrolase (FDAse) and urease, and crop biomass, and minimum effective concentrations (MEC) were in the range of 0.0040-10%. We found that actual abundance in the national-scale soils was lower than MEC, but partly overlapped or close, which implies various degrees of environmental impacts. These findings disclose the national-scale pollution pattern of MPs in farmlands and its latent risks to soil environments and crop growth.
More Papers Like This
Spatial Distributions, Compositional Profiles, Potential Sources, and Intfluencing Factors of Microplastics in Soils from Different Agricultural Farmlands in China: A National Perspective
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a nationwide survey of microplastics in Chinese agricultural soils, collecting 477 samples from 109 cities across 31 regions, and identified spatial distribution patterns and key factors influencing farmland microplastic contamination.
Potential sources and occurrence of macro-plastics and microplastics pollution in farmland soils: A typical case of China
AI summary Read the abstract
This study provides the first comprehensive survey of plastic pollution in Chinese farmland soil, analyzing data from 163 publications covering 728 sites. The average microplastic abundance was 4,537 particles per kilogram of dry soil, with agricultural plastic films and organic waste being the biggest sources. Since China is the world's largest user of agricultural plastics, these findings highlight how farming practices can lead to significant microplastic contamination of the soil that grows our food.
Effects of agricultural land types on microplastic abundance: A nationwide meta-analysis in China
AI summary Read the abstract
Meta-analysis of 321 observations across Chinese agricultural soils found that vegetable-growing soils had the highest microplastic contamination, followed by orchards, cropland, and grassland. Agricultural film mulch significantly increased soil microplastic levels, especially in orchards, while higher population density and economic activity correlated with increased contamination across all land types.
[Meta-analysis of the Occurrence Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Microplastics in Agricultural Soil in China].
AI summary Read the abstract
This meta-analysis pooled data from studies across China to assess microplastic pollution in agricultural soil. The research found that microplastic levels vary by region and are influenced by factors like temperature, precipitation, and farming practices. Since agricultural soil is where food crops grow, understanding microplastic contamination in farmland is directly relevant to food safety and human health.
The Distribution and Migration of Microplastics in Soils From Different Agricultural Farmlands in China
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted the first comprehensive nationwide analysis of microplastics in Chinese farmland soils, covering 169 sites across 31 provinces. They found microplastic levels ranging from 240 to 12,720 items per kilogram, with polyethylene films being the most common form, largely driven by agricultural practices and atmospheric deposition. The study revealed that soil pH was negatively correlated with microplastic abundance, providing new insights into the factors driving microplastic distribution in agricultural environments.
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.