Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Migration dynamics of PE and PVC microplastics in soil: An experimental column-based investigation on the effects of drip irrigation

Researchers conducted column experiments to track how polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics move through soil under drip irrigation conditions, examining how irrigation practices influence the depth and speed at which these plastic particles migrate. The findings have implications for understanding microplastic contamination of agricultural soils and groundwater.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Vertical 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.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Irrigation-facilitated low-density polyethylene microplastic vertical transport along soil profile: An empirical model developed by column experiment

Column experiments examined how irrigation drives vertical transport of low-density polyethylene microplastics through soil profiles, and an empirical model was developed from the results. Microplastics migrated to depths beyond the plow layer under irrigation, with transport behavior depending on soil moisture content and particle size.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Experimental Study on the Migration and Distribution of Microplastics in Desert Farmland Soil Under Drip Irrigation

Researchers studied how microplastics from degraded plastic film migrate through desert farmland soil under drip irrigation conditions in Xinjiang, China. The study found that microplastic movement in soil was influenced by irrigation patterns and soil properties, with particles migrating both vertically and horizontally. Evidence indicates that drip irrigation in plastic-mulched farmland may redistribute microplastic contamination throughout agricultural soils.

2024 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 12 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 26 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

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.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 161 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 132 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2021 Frontiers in Environmental Science 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Vertical distribution and multi-source pathways of microplastics in agricultural soils: A study of typical irrigation areas in the upper Yellow River basin

Researchers found that farmland soil in the upper Yellow River region contained significantly more microplastics than nearby forest or grassland, with plastics detected in all soil layers down to one meter deep. Flood-style irrigation pushed microplastics much deeper into the ground than drip irrigation, doubling contamination levels. This is concerning because microplastics migrating deep into agricultural soil could eventually reach groundwater that people depend on for drinking water.

2025 Environmental Pollution 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics undergo accelerated vertical migration in sand soil due to small size and wet-dry cycles

Polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics of varying sizes were tracked through sand soil columns under repeated wet-dry cycles, finding that the smallest particles (21 μm PE) migrated deepest and that migration depth increased linearly with the number of wet-dry cycles. The study reveals that small microplastics can penetrate much deeper into soil profiles than larger particles, raising concern about groundwater contamination.

2019 Environmental Pollution 495 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Layering and Heterogeneity on the Transport Dynamics of Microplastics in Soil Columns: Implications for Groundwater Contamination

Researchers studied microplastic transport through layered and heterogeneous soil columns to assess groundwater contamination risk from agricultural microplastic inputs. Layered soils with contrasting textures showed preferential flow that accelerated microplastic transport to deeper horizons compared to homogeneous soils, suggesting heterogeneous agricultural soils may pose a higher groundwater contamination risk than previously modeled.

2025
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 ACS Omega 35 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Vertical transport of microplastics from agricultural mulching films and associated chemical additives in soil ecosystems

Researchers tracked the vertical migration of microplastics derived from agricultural mulching films through soil profiles, finding that plastic particles and associated chemical additives can move downward through the soil column, raising concerns about groundwater contamination.

2024 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The vertical migration of a pesticide mixture in sandy soil is strongly driven by their sorption behavior and can be altered by Polyethylene Microplastics

Researchers packed sandy soil columns with a mixture of 20 pesticides and 1% polyethylene microplastics, then flushed them with contaminated water to track pesticide movement. They found that PE microplastics accelerated the downward migration of five slowly leaching pesticides, increasing the risk of groundwater contamination.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 4 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022
Article Tier 2

Minimal vertical transport of microplastics in soil over two years with little impact of plastics on soil macropore networks

A two-year field experiment found that microplastics placed on the soil surface moved very little downward, with only about 1% reaching below 8 cm depth, and had minimal effect on soil structure. While this suggests microplastics do not quickly contaminate deeper soil layers, they do persist near the surface where they can still be taken up by shallow-rooted crops.

2025 Communications Earth & Environment 16 citations
Article Tier 2

How soil moisture and flow regime drive microplastic transport in the vadose zone: insight from modelling and column experiments

Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles move through soil toward underground water sources that we use for drinking water. They found that plastic particles travel very differently depending on how wet or dry the soil is - sometimes getting trapped, other times moving quickly through the ground. This research helps us better understand how microplastics might contaminate our groundwater supplies, which is important for protecting drinking water quality.

2026
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)