Papers

A systematic review of microplastics in the environment: Sampling, separation, characterization and coexistence mechanisms with pollutants

Massive microplastic pollution was documented across Africa, Asia, India, South Africa, North America, and Europe, with MPs acting as carriers of heavy metals that enter organisms and cause harm. The adsorption capacity of organic pollutants onto microplastics correlated with hydrophobicity, surface area, and functional group characteristics.

A systematic review of the mechanisms underlying the interactions between microplastics and microorganism in the environment

Microplastic distribution and migration in soil, water and sediments in Caohai Lake under the different hydrological periods, Southwest China

Researchers investigated microplastic distribution in soil, water, and sediments of Caohai Lake in southwest China during dry and wet seasons. They found that all environmental compartments were contaminated with microplastics, with particle types and abundance varying between hydrological periods. The study suggests that seasonal water level changes influence how microplastics migrate and distribute across lake ecosystems.

Effects of microplastic pollution on agricultural soil and crops based on a global meta‐analysis

This meta-analysis examined data from studies worldwide to assess how microplastic pollution affects agricultural soil and crops. Researchers found that microplastics can alter soil properties including enzyme activity and nutrient availability, with effects varying by plastic type, concentration, and size. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in farmland may affect both soil health and crop growth in ways that depend heavily on local conditions.

A systematic review of the soil C, N, and P cycles mediated by microplastics: Enzyme activities, greenhouse gas emissions and plant growth

Study of the utilization of main crop straw resources in Southern China and its potential as a replacement for chemical fertilizers

This review examines the status of straw resource utilization in southern China and its potential to partially replace chemical fertilizers. The study calculated that the region produced approximately 335 million tons of crop straw in 2021, and suggests that returning straw to fields could contribute significant nutrients to soils, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers while supporting more sustainable agricultural practices.

Microplastic-Derived Carbon Emissions: From Granular Carbon to Dissolved Organic Carbon and Carbon Dioxide under Ultraviolet Radiation

Researchers examined carbon emissions from microplastics during aging processes, finding that MPs release not only dissolved organic carbon but also granular carbon particles as they degrade, expanding understanding of the contribution of plastic pollution to oceanic carbon cycling and carbon budgets.

Distribution and migration characteristics of microplastics in farmland soils, surface water and sediments in Caohai Lake, southwestern plateau of China

The Migration and Pollution Risk of Microplastics in Water, Soil, Sediments, and Aquatic Organisms in the Caohai Watershed, Southwest China

Researchers investigated the full pathway of microplastic pollution through a plateau lake ecosystem in southwest China — from soil and water through sediments and into grass carp fish tissue. Microplastic concentrations varied widely across compartments, and fish tissues contained measurable amounts, confirming that these particles move through the food chain in high-altitude freshwater systems. The study is notable because plateau lakes receive less human activity but can still accumulate significant microplastic contamination.

Soil-Microbial CNP Content and Ecological Stoichiometry Characteristics of Typical Broad-Leaved Tree Communities in Fanjing Mountain in Spring

This paper is not about microplastics; it examines soil microbial carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry across four subtropical forest types in Fanjing Mountain, China, to understand nutrient cycling and microbial nutrient limitations.

Transport Mechanisms of Nanoplastics in Agricultural Soils Under Snowmelt Infiltration Conditions in Cold Regions

Researchers investigated how nanoplastics migrate with snowmelt water through three agricultural soil types (luvisol, chernozem, and albic soil) under freeze-thaw conditions, finding that chernozem showed peak nanoplastic concentrations of 25.62 mg/kg in the vertical profile and that biochar amendment modified nanoplastic transport behavior across all soil types.

Mechanism of perfluorooctanoic acid on microplastic transport in Northeast farmland soils: Based on irrigation mode

Researchers found that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination in irrigation water influences microplastic migration through three types of agricultural soils, with high PFOA concentrations and biochar additions both inhibiting downward microplastic movement into deeper soil layers.

Multiple Factors Jointly Lead to the Lower Soil Microbial Carbon Use Efficiency of Abies fanjingshanensis in a Typical Subtropical Forest in Southwest China

Researchers evaluated microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) in the rhizospheric topsoil and subsoil of the endangered Abies fanjingshanensis at three elevations in a subtropical forest in southwest China, alongside physicochemical indices, enzyme activities, and microbial community composition. They found that pH was the most important factor controlling CUE, with acidic conditions forcing microorganisms to expend more energy on cellular pH maintenance rather than biomass production.

Quality Characteristics of Karst Plateau Tea (Niaowang) in Southwest China and Their Relationship with Trace Elements

Researchers analyzed the quality characteristics of Niaowang tea from Guizhou Province's karst plateau using HPLC and ICP-MS, finding that tender summer leaves had the highest catechin content and that trace element concentrations in soil and leaves varied by season and growing site altitude.