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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Minimal vertical transport of microplastics in soil over two years with little impact of plastics on soil macropore networks
ClearVertical transport of microplastic in agricultural soil in controlled irrigation plot experiments
Researchers conducted field plot experiments in agricultural soil and found that microplastics migrate vertically with irrigation water, with smaller particles (53–63 µm) penetrating up to 6 cm deep and larger particles remaining near the surface, indicating that water infiltration is a key driver of subsurface plastic transport.
Microplastics and nanoplastics barely enhance contaminant mobility in agricultural soils
A mesocosm study found that micro- and nanoplastics in agricultural soils had minimal effect on the mobility of sorbed organic contaminants toward deeper soil layers, suggesting that concerns about plastics significantly enhancing contaminant transport to groundwater may be overstated under typical field conditions.
Microplastic fate in soil environments: Drivers of the vertical transport of mulching film fragments
This study examined the vertical transport and fate of microplastics in soil environments, focusing on particles generated from the degradation of plastic mulch films used in agriculture. Multiple drivers including soil structure, rainfall, and particle properties were shown to influence how deeply microplastics migrate through the soil profile.
Exploring the vertical transport of microplastics in subsurface environments: Lab-scale experiments and field evidence
Researchers investigated how microplastics move downward through soil using laboratory column experiments and field sampling of groundwater. They found that heavier rainfall, smaller particle size, and fiber-shaped microplastics all increased vertical transport through unsaturated soil. Field samples confirmed the presence of microplastics in both soil layers and groundwater, suggesting that surface plastic pollution can migrate into underground water supplies.
Microplastic fate in soil environments: Drivers of the vertical transport of mulching film fragments
Researchers investigated the vertical transport of microplastics from plastic mulch films in soil, identifying factors that control how far particles move downward into the soil profile. Particle size, shape, and soil properties were found to be key drivers of microplastic vertical migration.
Vertical migration of microplastics along soil profile under different crop root systems
A lab incubation experiment showed that crop roots (corn, soybean, ryegrass) have minimal effect on downward vertical migration of microplastics in soil, though corn roots contributed to slight upward movement of particles in middle soil layers through root-generated pores.
Indirect Effects of Microplastic-Contaminated Soils on Adjacent Soil Layers: Vertical Changes in Soil Physical Structure and Water Flow
Laboratory experiments showed that microplastic contamination in upper soil layers indirectly altered the physical structure and water flow of adjacent uncontaminated lower soil layers, suggesting that microplastics can affect soil hydrology beyond their immediate zone of contamination.
Processes controlling the transportation of microplastics in agricultural soils
Researchers investigated the physical processes controlling microplastic transport through agricultural soils, examining how soil structure, water flow, bioturbation, and particle properties interact to move microplastics from surface application sites deeper into the soil profile or laterally toward aquatic systems. The study addressed the dual role of agricultural soils as both sinks and potential sources of microplastic pollution to surrounding environments.
Vertical distribution and post-depositional translocation of microplastics in a Rhine floodplain soil
Researchers analyzed a 110-centimeter-deep soil profile from a German river floodplain and found microplastics at every depth, including in layers deposited before the 1950s, suggesting earthworms and plant roots transported particles downward over time. This vertical movement means small microplastics travel deeper into soils than previously thought and complicates using them as markers for recent human impact.
An insight into laboratory column experiments for microplastic transport in soil
This review synthesizes findings from laboratory column experiments on microplastic transport through soil, examining how particle size, shape, surface chemistry, and soil properties influence how far plastics migrate in the subsurface.
Impact of Different Soil Tillage Practices on Microplastic Particle Abundance and Distribution
Field experiments across different tillage and fertilization regimes quantified microplastic abundance and vertical distribution in agricultural soils, finding that tillage practices significantly influenced how deeply microplastics are mixed through the soil profile.
Microplastic distribution and transport in agricultural soils : from field to burrow scale
Researchers investigated the spatial distribution and transport of microplastics in agricultural soils through field surveys and laboratory experiments. They found that sewage sludge amendments led to significantly higher microplastic contamination than mineral fertilizers, and that earthworm activity was a key mechanism for moving plastic particles deeper into soil. The study highlights the importance of accounting for both horizontal and vertical microplastic transport in soils when assessing agricultural pollution.
Vertical distributions of microplastics in long-term mulched soils and their potential impacts on soil properties and microbial diversity
Microplastic concentrations were measured at different depths in agricultural soils that had been mulched with plastic film over many years, finding vertical stratification with higher concentrations near the surface. Long-term plastic mulching leads to progressive accumulation of microplastics throughout the soil profile.
Soil structure strongly controls vertical microplastic transport in floodplain soils
Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles move through soil during floods and found that these microplastics can quickly travel deep underground through natural channels like old root holes and worm tunnels. This matters because microplastics in soil can eventually contaminate our groundwater and food crops, but current methods for predicting where they'll go don't account for these underground pathways. Understanding how microplastics move through soil helps us better protect our water supplies and farmland from plastic pollution.
Horizontal and vertical mobilisation of microplastics in agricultural soils: run-off and infiltration experiments
Researchers studied the horizontal and vertical movement of microplastics from agricultural mulch films in soil, examining runoff and leaching as transport pathways. The study found that microplastics from mulch films migrate both downward into the soil profile and laterally via surface runoff.
Impact of polyethylene microplastics on the vertical migration of pesticides in soil
Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics affect the vertical migration of pesticide mixtures in soil using stainless steel column experiments with sandy reference soil, finding that microplastics' hydrophobic surfaces and high sorption capacity altered the transport of 20 pesticides compared to uncontaminated soil.
Vertical profiling of micro-plastics in agricultural soils: polymer types, metal interactions, and implication on crop rooting zones.
Researchers profiled microplastics vertically through agricultural soil at three depths across 11 sites in India, finding that fibers dominated at all depths while fragments and films decreased with depth, with polypropylene and polyethylene as the most common polymers and higher concentrations in crop rooting zones.
Rainfall-Induced Transport of Microplastics in Soils Depends on Soil Pore Structure
Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles move through real soil when it rains, finding that the soil's natural pore structure (like tiny tunnels and holes) determines how deep and fast the plastics travel. This research helps us better understand how microplastics spread through farmland soil, which is important because these plastics could eventually end up in our food and water supply. Understanding this movement is a key step toward predicting long-term health risks from microplastic contamination.
Microplastics distribution in the soil: A review
This review examines the distribution and impacts of microplastics in soil systems, an area that has received less research attention compared to marine environments. Evidence indicates that microplastics accumulate primarily in topsoil layers where they interact with plant roots and soil organisms, affecting soil structure, water-holding capacity, and microbial community dynamics. The study discusses how microplastics serve as carriers for heavy metals, antibiotics, and other toxic substances, with potential implications for soil health and food security.
Vertical migration of microplastics in porous media: Multiple controlling factors under wet-dry cycling
Researchers studied how microplastics move vertically through sandy soil during cycles of wetting and drying, testing four common plastic types at various particle sizes. They found that smaller, more hydrophobic particles migrated deeper, and that frequent wet-dry cycles and the presence of dissolved organic matter accelerated downward movement. The findings suggest that microplastics in agricultural soils could potentially reach groundwater, posing risks to underground water quality.
Impact of Different Soil Tillage Practices on Microplastic Particle Abundance and Distribution
Researchers compared microplastic particle abundance and depth distribution in agricultural soils under conventional tillage, minimum tillage, and no-till practices, finding that tillage intensity affected both total MP concentrations and the vertical mixing of particles through the soil profile.
Factors Influencing the Vertical Migration of Microplastics up and down the Soil Profile
This review summarizes the factors that cause microplastics to move vertically through soil layers, including the physical properties of both the plastic particles and the soil itself. Researchers found that soil organisms, rainfall, dissolved organic matter, and agricultural practices like tilling and irrigation all contribute to driving microplastics deeper underground. The findings highlight the need to better understand how these particles migrate through soil, as they can eventually reach groundwater.
Size/shape-dependent migration of microplastics in agricultural soil under simulative and natural rainfall
Researchers found that microplastic migration in agricultural soil under rainfall depends on particle size and shape, with smaller particles moving deeper and rainfall intensity significantly influencing vertical transport patterns in soil profiles.
Microplastics transport in soils: A critical review
Researchers reviewed how microplastics move through soil, finding that their transport depends on a complex mix of particle properties, soil chemistry, water flow, and biological activity — and that these factors often interact in ways that produce contradictory results across studies. The review maps these knowledge gaps and calls for more controlled experiments to predict where microplastics accumulate and how they might reach groundwater or crops.