Papers

Effect of land use on occurrence and spatial variability of soil microplastics in agricultural watershed

Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on the Composition of the Soil Bacterial Communities in the Tidal Flat Wetlands of the Yellow River Delta of China

Researchers found that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) significantly altered soil bacterial communities in tidal flat wetlands of China's Yellow River Delta. The study suggests PAH contamination reduces bacterial diversity while shifting the relative abundance of key bacterial phyla, with soil properties like nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus playing important roles in shaping microbial community responses.

Amount and characteristics of microplastic and organic matter in wind-blown sediment at different heights within the aeolian sand saltation layer

Researchers investigated microplastics in wind-blown sediment at different heights within the aeolian saltation layer over farmlands using plastic mulch, finding that wind erosion redistributes microplastics and enriches them at specific heights above the soil surface.

Electrification of wind-blown microplastics and its implication for transport of floating microplastics in air

Wind tunnel experiments showed that wind-blown microplastic particles accumulate electrical charges ranging from −1.05 to +6.89 pC, with relative humidity and particle size controlling charge magnitude and polarity, which affects how far microplastics can travel in air.

Effect of Dry Soil Aggregate Size on Microplastic Distribution and Its Implications for Microplastic Emissions Induced by Wind Erosion

Researchers investigated the aggregation behavior and toxicity of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics in freshwater under varying pH and ionic conditions, finding that aggregation reduced acute toxicity to Daphnia magna but increased sedimentation and benthic exposure. Environmental chemistry strongly mediates nanoplastic risk.

Plastic mulch film induced soil microplastic enrichment and its impact on wind-blown sand and dust

Field experiments in semi-arid northern China showed that plastic mulch film use significantly enriched microplastics in surface soils compared to unfilmed plots, and that wind-blown sand and dust from mulched farmland transported microplastics to surrounding environments.

Wind erosion induced low-density microplastics migration at landscape scale in a semi-arid region of northern China

Researchers sampled agricultural fields with plastic film mulching and adjacent downwind grasslands in a semi-arid region of northern China, finding that wind erosion transported low-density microplastic fragments at landscape scale from agricultural sources into natural grassland ecosystems.

Microplastics can significantly affect dry soil aggregate stability and wind erosion

Electrostatic Forces Can Enhance the Emission of Soil Microplastics into Air

Duration-And Area-Dependent Influences of Plastic Film Mulch on Soil Microplastics Abundance

Electrification of Wind-Blown Microplastics and its Implication for Transport of Floating Microplastics in Air

Abduance-, Size-, and Shape- Dependent Effects of Microplastics on Dry Soil Aggregate Stability and Wind Erosion

Duration- and area-dependent influences of plastic film mulch on soil microplastics abundance

Researchers conducted a field campaign combined with remote sensing to investigate how the duration and coverage area of plastic film mulching affect microplastic abundance in agricultural soils in northern China's agro-pastoral ecotone, finding that microplastic concentrations ranged from 41.7 to 787.5 items per kilogram and positively correlated with mulching duration.

Driving Factors of the Distribution of Microplastics in the Surface Soil of the Uninhabited Areas in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, China

Wind Erosion Induced Low-Density Microplastics Migration at Landscape Scale in a Semi-Arid Region of Northern China