0
Article Tier 2 Environmental Sources Sign in to save

Microplastic dynamics in agricultural systems: insights from Spanish and Canadian case studies

No summary available — this paper's abstract is not included in the open metadata provided by the publisher. Learn why →

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Understanding the sources of microplastics in agroecosystems

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers challenged the widely held assumption that sewage sludge spread on farmland is the primary source of microplastics in agricultural soils, finding that unrecovered agricultural plastics such as mulch films likely contribute far more — suggesting pollution prevention efforts may be misdirected.

Article Tier 2

Unravelling the emerging threats of microplastics to agroecosystems

AI summary Read the abstract

This review synthesizes evidence that microplastics accumulate in agricultural soils from multiple pathways, disrupting soil physical and chemical properties, shifting rhizosphere microbial communities, and potentially entering plants through water and nutrient uptake channels. Because most microplastic research has focused on aquatic systems, the effects of soil MP contamination on crop yield, food quality, and long-term agricultural sustainability remain critically underexplored.

Article Tier 2

Prevalence of microplastics in agricultural soils in southern Portugal

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers sampled microplastic contamination across four distinct agricultural zones of a Portuguese farm, finding concentrations up to 320 particles/kg with polymer composition and particle morphology varying by land-use history — suggesting that each zone accumulates a distinct microplastic signature reflecting local farming practices.

Article Tier 2

Hazards of Microplastic Pollution in Agriculture

AI summary Read the abstract

This review examined the sources and hazards of microplastic pollution in agricultural settings, including plastic mulch degradation, sewage sludge application, and plastic packaging, and their effects on soil health and crop systems. Agricultural microplastic exposure is especially significant for human health because it creates a direct farm-to-table contamination pathway, with particles and leached chemicals potentially present in vegetables, grains, and livestock products.

Article Tier 2

Agro-(Bio)Microplastics: Extraction, Identification, and Quantification Methodologies

AI summary Read the abstract

This paper examines methods for extracting, identifying, and quantifying microplastics from biodegradable bioplastics used in agriculture, which fragment into particles that are difficult to distinguish from conventional microplastics. Understanding whether bioplastics truly degrade safely is vital, as agricultural microplastic contamination of soil directly affects food crops consumed by humans.

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.

Email me about

Share this paper