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The occurrence and distribution characteristics of microplastics in the agricultural soils of Shaanxi Province, in north-western China
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Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance and polymer types in agricultural soils across multiple counties in Shaanxi Province, northwestern China, finding widespread contamination correlated with agricultural activity intensity and plastic mulch film use.
Microplastics (MPs) are less than 5 mm, and have significant implications for the environment. As a new type of environmental pollutant, MPs have increasingly attracted the attention of scientists and have led to marked increases in both public and political awareness. However, their distribution and fates in the terrestrial environment are limited. We investigated the distribution and characteristics of MPs in the agricultural soils of Shaanxi Province, a typical agricultural province in China. We found evidence that 100% of agricultural soils contained MPs. The concentration of MPs in the soil ranged from 1430 to 3410 items/kg. Fibers and small-sized particles (0-0.49 mm) were the predominant type and size, respectively. Polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles were identified in agricultural soil. Furthermore, the abundance of microplastics in agricultural soil is closely related to the planting type of soil and climatic factors. The results from this study confirmed the presence of a high abundance of MPs in agricultural soil, and proved that agricultural activities might have caused MP contamination in soil.
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Quantity and distribution of microplastics in film mulching farmland soil of Northwest China
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Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in soil from 27 plastic-film mulched farmland sites across Gansu Province and northern Shaanxi in northwest China, finding very high concentrations averaging about 5,000 pieces per kilogram of soil. Agricultural plastic mulch film was identified as the primary source of this pervasive soil contamination.
Distinct microplastic distributions in soils of different land-use types: A case study of Chinese farmlands
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Microplastic distribution across six types of farmland land use was surveyed from soils in five Chinese provinces to determine how agricultural practices shape soil microplastic contamination. The study found that microplastic abundance varied significantly by land-use type, with plastic mulch film use and irrigation practices as key contributing factors.
Spatial Distributions, Compositional Profiles, Potential Sources, and Intfluencing Factors of Microplastics in Soils from Different Agricultural Farmlands in China: A National Perspective
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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.
Exploring the Occurrence Characteristics of Microplastics in Typical Maize Farmland Soils With Long-Term Plastic Film Mulching in Northern China
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A survey of 225 soil samples from maize farmland with long-term plastic film mulching in northern China found widespread microplastic contamination, with abundance, distribution, and polymer composition reflecting the history of film use and agricultural management practices.
Occurrence status of microplastics in main agricultural areas of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
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Agricultural soils in Xinjiang, China, were surveyed for microplastic contamination, revealing widespread presence in major farming regions where plastic mulch films and irrigation systems are heavily used. The study provides one of the first regional-scale assessments of microplastic pollution in this important agricultural area.
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