Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Prevalence of microplastics in agricultural soils in southern Portugal

Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils from southern Portugal, collecting samples across four land-use areas with different farming practices and characterizing polymer types and their associations with agricultural history in a Mediterranean system.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Impact assessment of microplastics in agricultural soils of the Euroregion Galicia and Minho: preliminary results

Researchers assessed the impact of microplastic pollution on agricultural soils in the Euroregion Galicia-Norte Portugal, examining contamination levels across farmland as plastic use in agriculture intensifies globally. Microplastics were detected across sampled fields, with levels and types reflecting regional agricultural practices and plastic inputs.

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

Impact assessment of microplastics in agricultural soils of the Euroregion Galicia and Minho: preliminary results

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across the Euroregion Galicia-Norte de Portugal, identifying distribution patterns and potential impacts on soil health. Agricultural practices involving plastic mulching were identified as the primary local source of soil microplastic contamination.

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

Distribution pattern and risk assessment of microplastics contamination in different agricultural systems

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across six sites in Coimbatore, India with distinct farming practices, finding microplastics in 81% of organic matter-removed samples. The study revealed that different agronomic inputs and land management practices produce distinct microplastic contamination profiles.

2024 International Journal of Environmental & Analytical Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Management of agricultural plastic waste in Portugal to prevent microplastics

Researchers examined the management of agricultural plastic waste in Portugal, assessing how mismanagement of plastics used in farming has led to soil contamination with microplastics and identifying practices that reduce plastic fragmentation and environmental release. The study found gaps between best practices and actual farm-level waste management that result in preventable plastic accumulation in agricultural soils.

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

Management of agricultural plastic waste in Portugal to prevent microplastics

This study assessed agricultural plastic waste management practices in Portugal and their role in generating soil micro- and nanoplastics. Poor management of plastic mulches and other agricultural films was identified as a significant and preventable source of persistent soil contamination.

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

Influences of land use and depth profile on the characteristics of microplastics in agricultural soils

Researchers examined how land use and soil depth profile influence microplastic characteristics in agricultural soils, finding that wastewater and sludge application, plastic mulching, and atmospheric deposition are key sources, and that MP type and abundance vary with soil management practice and depth, highlighting the importance of vertical distribution in soil MP studies.

2025
Article Tier 2

Spatial and temporal variance of microplastics in agricultural soils

This study reviewed how microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils vary by location and over time across multiple European field sites. The findings highlight that farming practices are direct sources of soil plastic contamination, and that long-term monitoring is needed to understand accumulation trends and their effects on soil health.

2023
Article Tier 2

Macro and microplastics in the soil: abundance, characterization, identification, and interactions under different land uses in an agricultural sub-basin

Researchers examined the abundance, characterization, identification, and interactions of macro- and microplastics in soils under different land uses within an agricultural sub-basin, assessing how land-use patterns influence plastic pollution distribution and potential interactions with the soil environment.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Soil contamination by microplastics in a small French agricultural watershed

Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across a small French watershed, examining how various farming practices influence microplastic sources, distribution, and fate in soil environments outside of previously studied regions like China.

2025 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Amount, distribution and composition of large microplastics in typical agricultural soils in Northern Germany

Researchers surveyed agricultural soils in Northern Germany for large microplastics and found contamination across all sampled fields, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common polymer types. Concentrations varied widely depending on farming practices, with fields receiving compost and sewage sludge showing higher contamination levels. The study provides important baseline data on microplastic pollution in European agricultural soils and identifies fertilization practices as a key contamination pathway.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 211 citations
Article Tier 2

Tracking the source of microplastics in soil—an exploratory case study in peach orchards from east-central Portugal

Researchers tracked the sources and types of microplastics found in agricultural soil at peach orchards in east-central Portugal by analyzing soil, irrigation water, organic fertilizers, and atmospheric fallout. They identified microplastics from multiple entry points, including irrigation and soil amendments, with fibers and fragments being the most common shapes. The study demonstrates the need for a multi-source approach to understanding how microplastics accumulate in farmland.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics abundance associated with farmland use types and the impact on soil microbial communities: A case study in Southern China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across orchard, paddy field, and vegetable field soils in Southern China and analyzed how it affected soil microbial communities. They found microplastic levels ranging widely across sites, with very small particles under 30 micrometers being most common, and identified 32 different polymer types. The study shows that farmland use type and agricultural practices like plastic mulching significantly influence both the amount and type of microplastic contamination in soils.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro plastics mapping in the agricultural sector of Cyprus

Researchers mapped microplastic pollution across agricultural areas in Cyprus, identifying key hotspots and sources of contamination. They found that plastic mulch films, irrigation systems, and fertilizer applications were major contributors to microplastic accumulation in farmland soils. The study emphasizes the need for targeted policies to reduce plastic use in Mediterranean agriculture and protect both soil health and food safety.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 7 citations
Article Tier 2

An evaluation on microplastic accumulations in Turkish soils under different land uses

Researchers analyzed 55 soil samples from agricultural and urban areas across three Turkish regions, finding higher microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils (averaging 193 particles/kg) than urban soils, with polyethylene fibers under 1 mm dominating both land use types.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic pollution in horticultural soils under greenhouse cultivation in northern Portugal

Researchers characterized and quantified microplastic pollution in greenhouse horticultural soils in the Minho region of northern Portugal, sampling multiple greenhouses with varying crop types, plastic cover durations, and agricultural practices using stratified random sampling. The study assessed microplastic presence, distribution, and characteristics across sites to evaluate the environmental implications of intensive plastic use in greenhouse agriculture.

2025 RepositóriUM (Universidade do Minho)
Article Tier 2

Impact of land-use patterns on soil microplastics: Distribution characteristics and driving factors in southern China’s Pearl River Delta

A study across different land-use types in China's Pearl River Delta found that agricultural land had higher soil microplastic concentrations than urban or forested areas, with land-use history and plastic mulch film use as the dominant factors controlling MP distribution and polymer composition.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Methodological Approach for Detecting Polypropylene Microplastics in Agricultural Soil in Southern Portugal

A methodological approach was developed specifically for detecting polypropylene microplastics, one of the most common plastics in the environment. Improved polypropylene-specific detection methods help fill a gap in monitoring programs, since this polymer can be challenging to identify with general-purpose techniques.

2025 Pollutants 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, spatial distribution, and characteristics of microplastics in agricultural soils and their relationship with contributing factors

Researchers found microplastic concentrations of 2,800 to 82,500 particles per kilogram in agricultural soils of Hainan Island, China, with plastic mulching, farming practices, and environmental factors all contributing to spatial variation in contamination levels.

2022 Journal of Environmental Management 88 citations
Article Tier 2

The spatial distribution of microplastics in topsoils of an urban environment - Coimbra city case-study

Researchers mapped microplastic contamination across urban soils in Coimbra, Portugal, comparing samples from parks, roadsides, and other land uses. They found microplastics in all soil samples, with higher concentrations in areas with more human activity and artificial surfaces. The study demonstrates that urban soils are significant reservoirs of microplastic pollution and that land use patterns strongly influence contamination levels.

2022 Environmental Research 89 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial Distributions, Compositional Profiles, Potential Sources, and Intfluencing Factors of Microplastics in Soils from Different Agricultural Farmlands in China: A National Perspective

Researchers conducted a nationwide survey of microplastics in Chinese agricultural soils, collecting 477 samples from 109 cities across 31 regions, and identified spatial distribution patterns and key factors influencing farmland microplastic contamination.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 130 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution modulated by farming regimes under multi-scenarios

Microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils were found to vary with farming regimes, with certain practices under mulching leading to higher accumulation. The study highlights how common agricultural methods contribute to soil microplastic pollution and supports calls for better plastic mulch management.

2025 iScience 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification and Analysis of Microplastics in Farmland Soils: Characterization, Sources, and Pathways

This study quantified and characterized microplastics in farmland soils from multiple sites, identifying agricultural mulch films, irrigation water, and compost as major sources and documenting widespread soil contamination across different farming regions.

2021 Agriculture 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Soil Microplastics and Their Relation to Soil and Terrain Attributes Under Different Land Uses

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in tropical soils under different land uses including forest, grassland, and agricultural areas. They found that agricultural soils had the highest microplastic concentrations, likely due to the use of plastic-based materials in farming. The study reveals how land use practices and soil characteristics influence the distribution and accumulation of microplastics in tropical environments.

2025 AgriEngineering 2 citations