Papers

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Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Heliyon 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Microrubbers in Soils Around Two Landfills and a Municipal Solid Waste Transfer Station in Ahvaz Metropolis, Iran

Researchers assessed microplastic and microrubber contamination in soils surrounding two landfills and a municipal solid waste transfer station near Ahvaz Metropolis, Iran, providing baseline data on particle abundance, morphology, and polymer types in Iranian waste management sites. The study found notable concentrations of both microplastics and microrubbers in surrounding soils, identifying landfills as significant local sources of these pollutants.

2022 Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Environmental Pollution 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic occurrence in urban and industrial soils of Ahvaz metropolis: A city with a sustained record of air pollution

Researchers documented microplastic contamination in urban and industrial soils of Ahvaz, Iran for the first time, finding concentrations up to 3,135 particles per kilogram in urban areas, with the highest levels in city centers lacking adequate sanitation infrastructure.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 105 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in different zones of waste landfill site: A case study of Hamadan, Iran

Researchers conducted the first study of microplastic abundance across different zones of a landfill in Hamadan, Iran, finding staggeringly high concentrations — up to 76,513 particles per kilogram of dry soil — in leachate lagoon areas where plastic-contaminated liquid collects. Fibers made up 71% of particles and LDPE and HDPE plastics dominated, highlighting landfills as a major but overlooked source of microplastic pollution.

2023 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Their Distribution in Soil at Municipal Solid Waste Landfills: A Review

This review investigated microplastic contamination across soil layers at urban municipal solid waste landfill sites, finding that landfill age and waste composition influence MP type and distribution. It identified landfill soils as understudied long-term MP reservoirs with potential for leaching into surrounding environments.

2024 Avicenna Journal of Environmental Health Engineering
Article Tier 2

Vertical distribution and migration of microplastics in soils from Fars Province, southwest Iran

Researchers characterised microplastics in soil horizons down to 140 cm depth along four transects in Iran's Fars Province, covering managed and unmanaged land uses. Microplastic abundance and polymer types varied with depth and land use, with deeper horizons showing evidence of vertical migration through soil profile.

2025
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology 17 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastic contamination and accumulation in municipal solid waste: A global review of sources, pathways, and impacts

This global review examines microplastic contamination in municipal solid waste, covering sources from landfills, sewage sludge, compost, and food waste, and how plastic particles from these land-based waste streams enter soil, groundwater, and eventually the food chain.

2025 Environmental Health Engineering and Management
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Sustainability 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Pollution and health risk assessment of heavy metals in the soil around an open landfill site in a developing country

Researchers evaluated soil pollution and ecological and human health risks from heavy metals around a municipal solid waste landfill in Kazerun, Iran, collecting soil samples at multiple distances and depths from the site. They found elevated concentrations of multiple heavy metals in landfill-proximal soils compared to background levels, with risk indices indicating potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic hazards particularly for children through soil ingestion pathways.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and ecological risks of microplastics and phthalate esters in organic solid wastes: In a landfill located nearby the Persian Gulf

Researchers measured microplastic and phthalate ester contamination in organic solid waste at a landfill near the Persian Gulf in Iran. They found an average of 12.3 microplastic particles per gram of waste, with nylon being the most common type, along with measurable levels of phthalate chemicals. The study highlights that landfills can serve as significant sources of both microplastic and chemical pollutant release into surrounding environments.

2023 Chemosphere 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal distribution and ecological hazards of microplastic pollution in soil water resources around a wastewater treatment plant and municipal solid waste site

Researchers mapped the spatial and seasonal distribution of microplastics in soil, water, and sediment near a wastewater treatment plant and municipal landfill in northern India. They found elevated microplastic concentrations in leachate and areas immediately surrounding both facilities, with seasonal variations in contamination levels. The study highlights that both wastewater treatment plants and solid waste sites serve as significant local sources of microplastic pollution to surrounding environments.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental Assessment of Microplastic Pollution Induced by Solid Waste Landfills in the Akmola Region (North Kazakhstan)

This pioneering study examined microplastic pollution around solid waste landfills in Kazakhstan's Akmola Region, finding plastic particles contaminating surrounding soils via leachate and rainfall runoff. Researchers characterized the size, shape, and composition of microplastics in both landfill waste and nearby soil samples. The findings establish a baseline for a region where such data was previously absent and highlight landfills as underappreciated local sources of microplastic contamination.

2023 Water 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and ecological risk of microplastics in soil at the Jatibarang landfill in Semarang, Indonesia

Researchers found up to 2,340 microplastic particles per kilogram of soil at the Jatibarang Landfill in Indonesia, with polypropylene being the most hazardous pollutant based on risk assessment scores. The study highlights that poorly managed landfills — especially those near residential areas — are significant sources of microplastic contamination in surrounding soils.

2024 Journal of Ecological Engineering
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastic, metals associated and ecological risk assessment in the topsoil of shiraz metropolis, south west of Iran

Researchers surveyed topsoil across the city of Shiraz, Iran and found microplastics in all sample types, with urban soils containing roughly three times more particles than industrial or agricultural soils. Fragments and small particles between 100 and 250 micrometers were the most common forms detected. The study also found that metals like lead, zinc, and copper tend to accumulate on microplastic surfaces, potentially increasing the ecological risk these particles pose.

2023 Chemosphere 21 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Soil and Sediment Contamination An International Journal 13 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2026 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Article Tier 2

Asia’s soil contamination crisis: causes, consequences, and sustainable solutions: a comprehensive review

This review addresses Asia's soil contamination crisis, examining how rapid urbanization, intensive agriculture, and poor waste management have created widespread heavy metal and microplastic soil pollution threatening food security, biodiversity, and human health across the continent.

2025 International Journal of Sustainable Engineering
Article Tier 2

Global concentrations of microplastic in soils, a review

This global review synthesized data from studies on microplastic concentrations in soils worldwide, finding contamination across diverse terrestrial environments with higher levels near urban areas and agricultural land. Terrestrial soils are estimated to contain far more microplastic than the world's oceans, making them a critical but understudied reservoir of plastic pollution.

2020 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Landfill Environments: Distribution, Characteristics, and Risks from Gampong Jawa, Indonesia

Researchers examined microplastic distribution across soil, leachate, river water, and well water surrounding a landfill in Gampong Jawa, Indonesia. They found alarmingly high concentrations in well water (up to 979 particles per liter) and soil (over 23,000 particles per kilogram), with fragments, fibers, and films being the most common types. The study demonstrates that landfills are significant sources of microplastic contamination that can spread to surrounding communities through water and soil pathways.

2024 Aceh International Journal of Science and Technology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Bumi
Article Tier 2

Identification of microplastics from urban informal solid waste landfill soil; MP associations with COD and chloride

Researchers identified microplastic concentrations of 180–1,120 particles per kilogram of soil in an urban informal landfill in India, with fragments and fibers as the dominant shapes, and found that microplastic presence altered key soil properties including conductivity and moisture content.

2022 Water Science & Technology 28 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 97 citations