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Microplastic Distribution in Soils from the Typical Sparsely Populated Area, Northwest China
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Researchers investigated microplastic distribution in soils from a sparsely populated region in northern China. They found microplastics were present even in areas with low human activity, suggesting atmospheric deposition and long-range transport as important pathways for contamination in remote environments.
Abstract In order to improve the knowledge of the microplastic pollution in the sparsely populated area, a preliminary monitoring survey was carried out in the northwest of China. Microplastics were evaluated in 28 soils collected from 6 sites by the methods of density separation and identified by microscope and Flourier infrared spectrum instrument. Microplastics were detected in all sampling points but the abundances, morphologies and polymers varied in different sampling points due to the natural conditions and anthropogenic influences. And the size of the detected microplastics is larger in comparison with other study areas. But with time, the degraded microplastics still could threat the ecology and environment. This study is helpful to get the whole pictures of microplastics around the world.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.