Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Spatial agglomeration characteristics and influencing factors of health risk intensity of heavy metals in cultivated soil in Jiangsu Province

Researchers mapped the spatial distribution of heavy metal health risks in agricultural soils across Jiangsu Province, China, finding that chromium, lead, and arsenic pose elevated cancer risks — particularly for children — with risk intensities clustering in northern counties and driven by fertilizer use, road density, and economic factors.

2023 资源科学 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation Characteristics and Pollution Evaluation of Soil Heavy Metals in Different Land Use Types: Study on the Whole Region of Tianjin

Researchers analyzed heavy metal accumulation across different land use types throughout Tianjin, China, finding that pollution levels and spatial distribution varied significantly by land use, with industrial and traffic-related activities identified as primary contamination sources.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterizing Surface Soil Heavy Metal Contamination and Source Attribution in the Qinghai Lake Basin

Researchers collected 227 surface soil samples across the Qinghai Lake Basin to characterize the spatial distribution and source attribution of twelve heavy metals using enrichment factors, geo-accumulation indices, and absolute principal component analysis, distinguishing natural geogenic contributions from anthropogenic inputs.

2025
Article Tier 2

Identification of potentially contaminated areas of soil microplastic based on machine learning: A case study in Taihu Lake region, China

Researchers applied machine learning models — including random forest and support vector regression — to predict the spatial distribution of soil microplastic pollution in China's Taihu Lake region, finding that soil texture, population density, and proximity to known plastic sources were the dominant drivers, with nearly half of urban soils showing serious contamination.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Source, Distribution, and Risk Estimation of Hazardous Elements in Farmland Soils in a Typical Alluvial–Lacustrine Transition Basin, Hunan Province

Researchers investigated the spatial distribution, sources, and health risk of hazardous elements including cadmium, lead, zinc, antimony, and arsenic in farmland soils of an alluvial-lacustrine transition basin in Hunan Province, China, attributing elevated concentrations to anthropogenic activities and assessing exposure risks.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing spatial variability and source identification of heavy metals in agricultural soils: A geostatistical and multivariate analysis of coastal eastern Zhejiang, China

Researchers used geostatistical and multivariate analysis techniques to assess the spatial variability and sources of five heavy metals in agricultural soils along the coast of eastern Zhejiang, China. While focused primarily on heavy metals rather than microplastics, the study provides methodology relevant to understanding pollutant distribution in coastal agricultural areas. The findings identified industrial emissions, agricultural practices, and natural geological processes as key contamination sources.

2026 PLoS ONE
Article Tier 2

Physicochemical properties of environmental media can affect the adsorption of arsenic (As) by microplastics

Researchers found that microplastics in farmland soil can absorb arsenic, a known carcinogen, and that the amount absorbed depends on soil properties like organic matter content and nutrient levels. This is the first study to examine microplastic-arsenic interactions in natural soil conditions across 12 Chinese provinces. The findings are important for human health because microplastics carrying arsenic in agricultural soil could increase the transfer of this toxic element into food crops.

2023 Environmental Pollution 39 citations
Article Tier 2

The potentiality of GIS for assessing soil pollution – A review

Not relevant to microplastics — this review examines how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be applied to assess and map soil pollution from heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants, with no substantive microplastics content.

2023 International Journal of Agricultural and Applied Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterizing surface soil heavy metal contamination and source attribution in the Qinghai Lake Basin

Researchers analyzed 227 soil samples across China's Qinghai Lake Basin to map heavy metal contamination, finding generally low pollution levels with transportation as a key source; they recommend future research examine the combined threat of heavy metals and microplastics in alpine ecosystems.

2026 Scientific Reports
Article Tier 2

Using machine learning to reveal drivers of soil microplastics and assess their stock: A national-scale study

Using machine learning on data from 621 sites across China, researchers identified nine key factors driving microplastic distribution in soil, including population density, plastic production, and agricultural practices. The study estimated that Chinese topsoil contains a substantial stock of microplastics, with concentrations varying widely by region. This large-scale analysis helps predict where microplastic contamination is worst, which is important for understanding human exposure through food grown in contaminated soil.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Farmland Soils near Highways: A Case Study of Guangzhou, China

Researchers assessed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in roadside farmland soils near highways in Guangzhou, China across seasons, finding that PAH levels near high-traffic roads were significantly elevated above background. Vehicle emissions and tire wear were identified as the primary PAH sources, with carcinogenic risk scores exceeding safe thresholds at several sites.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution, Environmental Risk Assessment, and Key Drivers of Microplastics in Farmland Soils Across Agricultural Zones in China

Researchers mapped the distribution and environmental risk of microplastics across a study area while identifying the key drivers of spatial variation, including land use and proximity to pollution sources. The findings provide a framework for prioritizing cleanup and management efforts in microplastic-contaminated environments.

2025 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 1 citations
Article Tier 2

From mapping to modelling: the evolving multidimensional microplastic risks in China's farmlands

Researchers combined a national-scale soil survey with machine learning models to map and project microplastic risks across China's farmlands through 2050, finding that agricultural film use, population density, and GDP are key drivers, and that regional risk rankings will shift counter-intuitively depending on which socioeconomic development pathway is followed.

2026 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Potentially Toxic Trace Elements in the Urban Soils of Santiago de Compostela (Northwestern Spain)

Scientists measured potentially toxic metals (copper, lead, zinc, nickel, chromium, arsenic) in urban soils across the city of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, finding elevated concentrations in areas with heavy traffic and industrial activity. The study highlights how urban land use drives heavy metal contamination, which often co-occurs with microplastic pollution.

2021 Applied Sciences 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Risk assessment and zoning of soil microplastics in a typical megacity, China

Researchers mapped microplastic contamination across soils in Nanjing, a major Chinese city, and found that risk levels varied significantly by location. Residential areas, government districts, and industrial zones showed the highest concentrations, with washing-related activities and soil properties being key factors influencing pollution levels. The study provides a risk-based zoning framework that could help city planners prioritize cleanup and prevention efforts in the most affected areas.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 4 citations
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

Assessment of heavy metal sources and health risks in soil-crop systems of fragmented farmland

Researchers assessed heavy metal contamination in farmland soils and crops in a fragmented agricultural area of Chongqing, China. They found that cadmium and arsenic posed the highest health risks, with children being more vulnerable than adults. The study identifies both natural geological sources and human activities like mining and farming as contributors to the contamination.

2025 Frontiers in Public Health 2 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

Estimation of Pb and Cd Content in Soil Using Sentinel-2A Multispectral Images Based on Ensemble Learning

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it develops machine learning models using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery to estimate lead and cadmium concentrations in soil near a mining area in China.

2023 Remote Sensing 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Agronomic practices and road proximity drive plastic pollution in agricultural soils: Insights from Bihar, India on weathering, elemental association, and ecological risk

Researchers surveyed 22 agricultural sites in Bihar, India, measuring microplastic contamination in soil across different farming practices and road distances. Mulched fields near roads had the highest concentrations (up to 1,460 particles/kg), while PE and PP polymers dominated, and microplastics were found to adsorb multiple heavy metals including lead, arsenic, and cadmium.

2025 Environmental Pollution 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The Study of Peri-Urban Soil Contamination in the Kenitra Region, Morocco – Characterization and Assessment Using a Statistical Approach

Researchers characterized peri-urban soil contamination in the Kenitra region of Morocco, analyzing inorganic and organic pollutant concentrations in solid waste-impacted soils and assessing associated environmental risks. The study documented significant pollution levels and highlighted the growing threat of unmanaged solid waste to peri-urban soil quality.

2024 Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Significant influence of land use types and anthropogenic activities on the distribution of microplastics in soil: A case from a typical mining-agricultural city

Scientists surveyed microplastic pollution across five types of land in a Chinese mining-agricultural city and found the highest levels in greenhouse farmland, with nearly 3,738 particles per kilogram of soil. Agricultural plastic waste, irrigation water, and fertilizers were identified as the main sources of contamination. The study shows that farming practices are major contributors to microplastic buildup in the soil that produces our food.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of influencing factors of phenanthrene adsorption by different soils in Guanzhong basin based on response surface method

This study examined how phenanthrene — a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon — adsorbs onto three soil types in China's Guanzhong Basin, finding that soil organic matter content and clay minerals are key factors controlling pollutant binding.

2022 Scientific Reports 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Regulatory mechanism of microplastics on arsenic bioavailability in a subtropical estuary, China

Researchers investigated the regulatory mechanisms by which microplastics influence arsenic bioavailability in sediments of the Min River estuary, a subtropical estuary in China, finding that microplastic pollution alters the dynamics of bioavailable arsenic through interactions with sediment geochemistry and microbial communities.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment