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Multidimensional risk assessment and source analysis of micro- and nanoplastics in dairy cattle farms: An Inner Mongolia case study
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Researchers investigated microplastic and nanoplastic pollution across nine large-scale dairy farms in Inner Mongolia, China, analyzing soil, feed, and atmospheric samples. They found that feed contained the highest microplastic abundance, with fragment-shaped particles smaller than 100 micrometers dominating all sample types. While all sites were assessed as low ecological risk, the study provides a comprehensive baseline for understanding plastic contamination sources in livestock farming environments.
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) have emerged as pollutants of global concern, yet their impacts on the livestock remain underexplored. This study investigated MNP pollution in nine large-scale dairy farms in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region by analyzing soil, feed, and atmospheric samples. Laser direct infrared spectroscopy was used to analyze the abundance, morphology, size, and polymer types of microplastics (MPs), showing that the soil, feed, and atmosphere samples contained an average of 1757.89, 9432.21 MPs n/kg, and 1.86 MPs/m, respectively. Fragment MPs smaller than 100 μm dominated in all samples, while chlorinated polyisoprene and polyvinyl chloride were predominant polymer types. Nanoplastics (NPs) in manure-amended soil were detected via Py-GC/MS, varying from 2.21 to 30.23 mg/kg, with polyethylene NPs ubiquitous in all samples. Backward trajectory modeling showed that atmospheric MPs originated predominantly from northwest, northeast, and southwest airflows. The Positive Matrix Factorization model identified eight potential sources for soil MNPs, eight for feed MPs, and four for atmospheric MPs. All sampling sites were assessed as low risk in terms of ecological risk, and there were no non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic risks to humans. This research provides insights into the distribution, sources, and environmental risks of MNPs in livestock farming, offering a scientific foundation for targeted mitigation strategies.
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A survey of microplastics in wastewater from large-scale dairy farms and their surroundings in inner Mongolia of China
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in wastewater from nine large dairy farms in Inner Mongolia, China, identifying 29 different plastic polymer types — with polyisoprene, PVC, and polyurethane most common — and found that existing treatment ponds removed microplastics poorly. The study highlights dairy farm wastewater as an underappreciated source of microplastic pollution reaching surrounding environments.
The occurrence of microplastics in farmland and grassland soils in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau: Different land use and mulching time in facility agriculture
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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in farmland and grassland soils on the remote Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. The study found an average of about 50 microplastic particles per kilogram of soil, with plastic film and polyester being the most common types. Notably, longer use of plastic mulch in farming was linked to higher microplastic levels, suggesting that agricultural plastic use is a key source of soil contamination even in remote regions.
Occurrence characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural soils in the loess hilly gully area of Yan' an, China
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Researchers measured microplastic levels in agricultural soil, water, and fertilizer in a farming region of central China and found an average of about 4,500 particles per kilogram of soil. Over 90% of the particles were smaller than 100 micrometers, and the main types were polyethylene and PET from sources like plastic mulch and compost. The findings show that farming practices are introducing significant microplastic contamination into the soil where food is grown.
Microplastics in manure: Sources, analytical methods, toxicodynamic, and toxicokinetic endpoints in livestock and poultry
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Researchers reviewed the occurrence of microplastics in livestock and poultry manure, finding hundreds to thousands of particles per kilogram depending on the animal, with plastic-contaminated feed and mulching films as the primary sources. Because manure is widely spread on farmland as fertilizer, it represents a significant — and underappreciated — pathway for microplastics to enter agricultural soils and ultimately the food chain.
Distribution, Environmental Risk Assessment, and Key Drivers of Microplastics in Farmland Soils Across Agricultural Zones in China
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Researchers mapped the distribution and environmental risk of microplastics across a study area while identifying the key drivers of spatial variation, including land use and proximity to pollution sources. The findings provide a framework for prioritizing cleanup and management efforts in microplastic-contaminated environments.
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