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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Emerging investigator series: open dumping and burning: an overlooked source of terrestrial microplastics in underserved communities
ClearOpen dumping and burning: A source of terrestrial microplastics in underserved communities
Researchers extracted and characterized microplastics from soil surrounding sites where solid waste is openly dumped and burned — a waste management practice common in rural and Indigenous communities globally. The study found significant microplastic contamination even at depth, showing that open dumping is a major but overlooked source of terrestrial microplastic pollution.
Open Dumping and Burning: an Overlooked Source of Terrestrial Microplastics in Underserved Communities
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in soils at three open dump and burn sites in underserved communities in Oklahoma and Montana, extracting and characterizing particles at two soil depths using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. They found 35,000 to 69,200 microplastic particles per kilogram of soil — concentrations equaling or exceeding those from biosolid application — with polyethylene dominating (46.2%-84.8%) and thermally oxidized burned particles comprising 76.3-96.9% of particles at community-wide sites.
Microplastic accumulation in soils around open dumping and scrapyard sites in Türkiye
Researchers conducted the first investigation of microplastic accumulation in soils around open dumping and scrapyard sites across eight provinces in Turkey. They found microplastics in all soil samples, with fibers and fragments being the most common forms, predominantly composed of polyethylene and polypropylene. The study reveals that informal waste disposal sites are significant but previously undocumented sources of soil microplastic contamination.
Investigating the amount of macro, meso, and microplastics in the surface soil around the landfill of Tabriz and the effect of the prevailing wind on their distribution
Researchers sampled soil around an improperly managed landfill in Tabriz, Iran, finding it heavily contaminated with microplastics — averaging 470 particles per kilogram of dry soil — along with larger meso- and macroplastic debris. Surprisingly, the prevailing wind had little influence on how the microplastics spread around the site; the pollution was widespread in all directions. Open and poorly managed landfills are a significant and underappreciated source of microplastic contamination in surrounding soils and communities.
Characterization of Microplastics and Associated Heavy Metals in Urban Soils Affected by Anthropogenic Littering: Distribution, Spatial Variation, and Influence of Soil Properties
Researchers sampled soils across residential, commercial, and industrial land-use types in urban areas and found microplastics in every location, with polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyamide as the dominant polymer types, at concentrations up to 850,000 particles per kilogram. Heavy metals were also associated with the plastic particles, meaning microplastics in urban soil may serve as combined carriers of chemical toxicants. The findings highlight urban soil as a major but underappreciated reservoir of microplastic pollution.
Microplastic pollution in landfill soil: Emerging threats the environmental and public health
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in soil at a landfill near residential areas in Indonesia and found extremely high levels of over 60,000 particles per kilogram. The most common types were fragments of polyethylene, PVC, polystyrene, and polypropylene. The study raises public health concerns because landfills near populated areas can release microplastics into surrounding soil and water, creating exposure pathways for nearby communities.
Spatial distribution and ecological risks of microplastics in agricultural soils near a solid waste dumpsite in southwest Bangladesh
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in agricultural soils surrounding a municipal solid waste dumpsite in southwest Bangladesh, characterizing the types, spatial distribution, and ecological risks. They found significant microplastic accumulation in soils near the dump, with contamination levels decreasing at greater distances. The study highlights that waste dumpsites are important point sources of microplastic pollution that can affect the fertility and ecological health of surrounding agricultural lands.
Microplastic and POP contamination in rural waste-dumping sites, India
Researchers collected soil and water samples from unregulated waste-dumping sites in rural Tamil Nadu, India, finding microplastics in all samples, with polypropylene and polyethylene as the dominant polymers, raising concerns about contamination of drinking water and agricultural land.
Open dumping site as a point source of microplastics and plastic additives: A case study in Thailand
Researchers characterized an open dumping site in Thailand as a significant point source of both microplastics and plastic additive chemicals in the surrounding environment. They found elevated levels of microplastics and associated contaminants in soil and water samples collected near the dump site. The study highlights that unmanaged waste disposal in developing countries is a major contributor to localized microplastic and chemical pollution.
Microplastic diversity, risks and soil impacts: A multi-metric assessment across land-use systems
Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance, polymer diversity, and ecological risk across seven land-use types in India's Brahmaputra Valley, finding that built-up areas had the highest particle counts while forest soils paradoxically showed the greatest polymer hazard scores due to high-risk polymers, and that land-use type shapes both the quantity and composition of soil microplastic contamination.
Microplastic Abundance and Characteristics in The Soil Around the Jambi Talang Gulo Landfill
Researchers measured microplastic abundance and characterized particle types in soil surrounding the Talang Gulo landfill in Jambi, Indonesia, finding elevated microplastic concentrations in areas adjacent to the high-volume waste disposal facility due to fragmentation of plastic debris under environmental weathering.
Microplastic Abundance and Characteristics in The Soil Around the Jambi Talang Gulo Landfill
Researchers measured microplastic abundance and characterized particle types in soil surrounding the Talang Gulo landfill in Jambi, Indonesia, finding that the high volume of plastic waste at the facility contributes to elevated microplastic contamination in surrounding soils through environmental weathering and fragmentation.
Microplastic Pollution in Residential Soils
Researchers collected surface soil from three residential density zones in Surabaya, Indonesia, and characterized microplastics by abundance, shape, color, and polymer type. Microplastics were present in all samples, with concentrations higher in denser residential areas, likely reflecting greater per-capita plastic use and outdoor plastic degradation.
Microplastic pollution unveiled: the consequences of small unregulated dumping in villages, spanning from soil to water
Researchers studied microplastic pollution at unregulated village dumpsites in India and found widespread contamination in the surrounding soil and water. The study identified a variety of plastic types and shapes, including fibers, fragments, and films, moving from dump sites into nearby aquatic environments. This matters because informal waste disposal in rural areas is a largely overlooked source of microplastic pollution that can affect local water quality.
Investigation on Microplastics in Soil near Landfills in the Republic of Korea
Researchers found microplastics in soil samples taken near two South Korean landfills, averaging 73–98 particles per kilogram, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the dominant types and fragments being the most common shape. The high proportion of secondary (weathered) microplastics indicates that fragmentation of larger plastic waste is actively occurring at these sites. These findings confirm that landfills are a significant local source of microplastic soil contamination and warrant inclusion in national monitoring programs.
Identification, characterization, and implications of microplastics in soil – A case study of Bhopal, central India
Researchers identified and characterized microplastics in soils from Bhopal, central India, documenting their occurrence, distribution, and polymer composition to assess the extent of soil contamination from poor plastic waste management practices.
Waste dumps as microplastic hotspots: a comparative investigation at urban, suburban, and rural areas of Eastern India and associated risk assessment
This study measured microplastic contamination at waste dump sites across urban, suburban, and rural areas in Eastern India and found concentrations as high as 3,457 particles per kilogram. High-hazard plastics like PVC and polyurethane were present, and riverside dumps showed especially high ecological risk scores. The findings suggest that waste dumps are significant sources of microplastic pollution that can contaminate nearby water and soil used by local communities.
Plastic particles in soil: state of the knowledge on sources, occurrence and distribution, analytical methods and ecological impacts
This comprehensive review of plastic particles in soil covered sources, occurrence, analytical detection methods, and ecological impacts, identifying gaps in knowledge about terrestrial plastic fate and effects compared to the more extensively studied marine environment.
Leachate from municipal solid waste landfills: A neglected source of microplastics in the environment
This review identified municipal solid waste landfills as a significant but neglected source of microplastics in the environment, explaining how physical compression, chemical oxidation, and biological decomposition of buried plastics generate microplastics that migrate via leachate into surrounding soils and water.
Micro-plastics in the Vicinity of an Urban Solid Waste Management Facility in India: Assessment and Policy Implications
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination near an open waste dumping site in Kochi, India, finding an average of 100 microplastic pieces per 100 g of river sediment and 178 pieces per 100 g of topsoil, with polyethylene the dominant polymer type identified via ATR-FTIR analysis, confirming that unscientific solid waste disposal significantly elevates riverine microplastic pollution.
Distribution of Microplastics in an Urban Soil:The Case of a Medium-Sized Cityin the Central Valley of Chile
Researchers systematically sampled soils across an entire Chilean city and found microplastics at 95% of sampling sites, with plastic fibers making up 68% of the particles detected. The near-universal contamination signals that urban soils are a widespread and underappreciated reservoir of microplastic pollution.
Subsurface transport and environmental risks of microplastic pollution: influence of land use and seasonal variability
Researchers systematically investigated how microplastics move vertically through soil across five different land use types during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Dumpsites had the highest microplastic concentrations at nearly 40,000 particles per kilogram, while woodlands had the lowest at around 500 particles per kilogram. The study found that smaller microplastics traveled deeper into soil, especially after monsoon rains, and that land use type significantly influenced both the amount and composition of microplastic contamination.
Microplastics and mesoplastics as emerging contaminants in Tehran landfill soils: The distribution and induced-ecological risk
Researchers conducted the first study of microplastic and mesoplastic contamination in Tehran landfill soils, finding plastic particles in all 56 samples collected. Shallow soils had significantly higher concentrations than deeper layers, with most particles being low-density plastics from common single-use products. The calculated hazard indices reached levels III-IV, indicating moderate to high ecological risk from plastic pollution at the landfill site.
Microplastic pollution in terrestrial environment: Identification, characterization, and risk assessment in Indore, Central India
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in soil from agricultural and recreational areas in Indore, India. Recreational sites had about six times more microplastic particles than farmland, with most particles made of common plastics like PET and polypropylene. While the ecological risk was rated low for now, the long-term buildup of these particles in soil could eventually pose threats to crops and the food chain.