Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecological risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural soils of Coimbatore region, India

Researchers assessed the ecological risk of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils near Coimbatore, India, and found that soils treated with inorganic fertilizers had the highest risk levels. While overall pollution loads were categorized as low, the types of plastics found (including PVC and polystyrene) pushed risk scores into the extremely dangerous category due to their potential toxicity. The study raises concerns about how farming practices may be introducing hazardous microplastics into the soil where food is grown.

2024 Natural Resources for Human Health 11 citations
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

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
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic contamination and associated risks in agricultural soils: a case study along the National Highway-66, Goa, India

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in paddy field soils along a major highway in Goa, India, finding concentrations of 250–423 MP/kg dominated by fiber-shaped polypropylene and polycarbonate particles with extensive surface weathering and adsorbed heavy metals — and showed through hazard index analysis that abundance alone is a poor predictor of ecological risk.

2026 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Article Tier 2

Soil Environment Pollution with Microplastic, Influence Factors and Environmental Risks

This review synthesizes research on microplastic contamination of soil environments, covering the major sources of soil microplastics, factors influencing their accumulation and distribution, and the environmental risks they pose to terrestrial ecosystems and agriculture.

2023 Ecology and Industry of Russia 3 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastic Contamination in Agricultural Soils Across India: A Systematic Review of Studies and Research Gaps

This systematic review examines microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across India, an area that has received far less attention than waterways. The research identifies polluted irrigation water, industrial discharge, and plastic mulch as key contamination sources, raising concerns about microplastics entering the food supply through crops grown in contaminated soil.

2025 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Baseline assessment of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils from the coastal stretches of Karnataka and Goa, Southwestern India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in paddy field soils across coastal regions of Karnataka and Goa in India, finding microplastics in every sample tested at all depths up to 30 cm. Fibers and polypropylene particles were the most common types, likely originating from agricultural plastic use and atmospheric deposition. The presence of toxic heavy metals on the microplastic surfaces raises additional concerns about contamination of rice crops grown in these soils.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 9 citations
Article Tier 2

The extent and impacts of soil pollution by microplastics

This study examines the extent and impacts of soil pollution by microplastics, reviewing evidence of how microplastic particles accumulate in terrestrial environments and affect soil ecosystems, organisms, and agricultural systems.

2024 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
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 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

Preliminary results on microplastic pollution from agricultural soil in Vietnam: Distribution, characterization, and ecological risk assessment

This first microplastic survey of Vietnamese agricultural soils found concentrations ranging from 1,700 to 38,800 items per kilogram, with soils near residential areas and manufacturing facilities showing concentrations roughly five times higher than remote agricultural land. Fibers dominated and most particles were under 1 mm, with the majority of sites assessed at hazard level IV — the highest ecological risk category. The study establishes a critical baseline for a country where agricultural plastic use is intensive and growing.

2023 VIETNAM JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, distribution, and ecological risks of microplastics in urban and agricultural topsoil of Mian-Ab Plain, Iran

Researchers mapped microplastic contamination across 102 soil samples in an arid Iranian plain using GIS mapping and advanced spectroscopy, finding the highest concentrations near urban centers and an average of nearly 12 microplastic particles per kilogram of soil. Children faced roughly double the estimated ingestion exposure compared to adults, and the dominant plastic types — PET, polystyrene, polypropylene, and nylon — pointed to mixed household and agricultural sources.

2025 Discover Applied Sciences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution of microplastics in soil with context to human activities: a case study from the urban center

Researchers mapped the spatial distribution of microplastics in topsoil across different land use types in an urbanized city in the upper Indus plain. They found that agricultural and urban areas had significantly higher microplastic concentrations than less developed areas, with fibers being the dominant particle type. The study links microplastic soil contamination patterns to specific human activities including irrigation with wastewater, plastic mulching, and industrial discharge.

2020 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 128 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in soils: A review of methods, occurrence, fate, transport, ecological and environmental risks

This review examines the sources, detection methods, and environmental behavior of microplastics in soils, an area that has received far less attention than marine microplastic pollution. Researchers found that microplastics interact with soil properties and organisms in complex ways, potentially entering the human food chain. The study calls for standardized methods and more research into how these tiny plastic particles move through and affect terrestrial ecosystems.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 465 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence characteristics and ecological impact of agricultural soil microplastics in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau, China

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in agricultural soils on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau in China, a remote area with low population density. They found microplastic concentrations ranging from about 17 to 950 particles per kilogram, with polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polyethylene being the most common types. The study suggests that facility-based agriculture significantly increases soil microplastic levels, and nearly half of the areas assessed showed relatively high polymer risk.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 19 citations
Article Tier 2

A global review on the abundance and threats of microplastics in soils to terrestrial ecosystem and human health

This review examines microplastic pollution levels across agricultural, roadside, urban, and landfill soils worldwide, finding wide variation but consistent contamination. Microplastics alter soil pH, density, and water movement, disrupt microbial communities, inhibit plant growth, and affect soil animals. For humans, the concern is that microplastics in soil can enter the food chain through crops and contaminated water.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural soils in the loess hilly gully area of Yan' an, China

Researchers measured microplastic levels in agricultural soil, water, and fertilizer in a farming region of central China and found an average of about 4,500 particles per kilogram of soil. Over 90% of the particles were smaller than 100 micrometers, and the main types were polyethylene and PET from sources like plastic mulch and compost. The findings show that farming practices are introducing significant microplastic contamination into the soil where food is grown.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 45 citations
Review Tier 2

Sources, pollution, and ecological impacts of soil microplastics-A review

A comprehensive review summarized the sources, distribution, and ecological impacts of microplastics in soil environments, synthesizing evidence on how plastics affect soil organisms, structure, and agricultural productivity. The review calls for urgent policy action to address soil microplastic contamination as a threat to food security.

2025 Environmental chemistry and safety 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Risk assessment of microplastic pollution in an industrial region of Bangladesh

Scientists assessed microplastic pollution in industrial soil from Narayanganj, Bangladesh, finding contamination in all 12 samples tested, with fibers being the most common particle type. A pollution risk assessment classified the area as having a moderate to high level of microplastic contamination. This study highlights how industrial regions in developing countries face significant microplastic soil pollution that could affect nearby communities through dust, water, and locally grown food.

2023 Heliyon 34 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of microplastics in soil: Occurrence, analytical methods, combined contamination and risks

This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic pollution in soil ecosystems, covering sources, detection methods, and ecological impacts. Researchers found that soils are major reservoirs for microplastics, and the study highlights how combined contamination with other pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides may amplify risks to soil organisms and food safety.

2022 Environmental Pollution 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental fate and impacts of microplastics in soil ecosystems: Progress and perspective

This review summarized knowledge on microplastics in soil environments, covering occurrence across agricultural, industrial, and urban soils, transport pathways, and ecological risks to soil organisms and plant communities. The authors identify key data gaps and methodological challenges that currently limit understanding of microplastic fate and impact in terrestrial systems.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 509 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Build-Up in Soils- Spatial Distribution Patterns across different Land uses and Associated Health Risks

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across multiple land-use types and found that greenhouse soils and residential areas had the highest concentrations, reaching up to 4,500 particles per kilogram. The study estimated that infants could face roughly 20 times higher daily microplastic intake than adults in heavily contaminated areas. The findings highlight the widespread variability of soil microplastic pollution and its potential health implications, particularly for vulnerable populations.

2025 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution in rice fields: a case study of Pir Bazar rural district of Gilan, Iran

Researchers measured microplastic pollution in rice paddy soils in a rural area of northern Iran and compared them with non-paddy vegetable farms. Rice fields contained higher concentrations of microplastics, likely due to irrigation practices and plastic mulch use. The study found that fibers were the most common shape, and soil properties like organic matter content correlated with microplastic abundance, suggesting these particles could affect soil health over time.

2023 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 17 citations