Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

A Geochemical and Agronomic Evaluation of Technosols Made from Construction and Demolition Fines Mixed with Green Waste Compost

This study evaluated the agricultural and geochemical properties of soils made from mixtures of construction and demolition waste combined with green compost. While not directly about microplastics, construction and demolition materials are increasingly recognized as sources of microplastic contamination in recycled soil products.

2021 Agronomy 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Are anthropogenic soils from dumpsites suitable for arable fields? Evaluation of soil fertility and biomass response to elements

Researchers evaluated the fertility of anthropogenic soils developed from an abandoned dumpsite in Nigeria using multi-analytical approaches, measuring soil chemical signatures and bioaccessibility of elements to plant species, finding comparatively high Ca and Na content but raising questions about suitability for arable agriculture.

2022
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

Are anthropogenic soils from dumpsites suitable for arable fields? Evaluation of soil fertility and transfer of potentially toxic elements to plants

Researchers evaluated the fertility of anthropogenic soils from an abandoned dumpsite in Nigeria, examining whether these soils are suitable for agriculture by measuring nutrient levels and the bioaccessibility of potentially toxic elements to plants.

2023 Plant and Soil 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Vegetation establishment in soils polluted by heavy metal(loid)s after assisted natural remediation

This field study evaluated soil remediation techniques at a mining spill site in Spain, finding that amendments made from recycled materials successfully reduced toxic metal availability and encouraged natural vegetation regrowth. While not about microplastics, the research demonstrates approaches for cleaning up contaminated soil that could also address microplastic pollution in agricultural land. The success of using waste-derived materials for soil restoration offers a model for sustainable approaches to multiple types of soil contamination.

2024 Plant and Soil 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial and temporal variability of Cadmium and Lead in Urban Soils of Thessaloniki (northern Greece).

This study monitored cadmium and lead contamination in urban soils of Thessaloniki, Greece over two years, finding variable heavy metal levels linked to traffic and industrial activity. Heavy metals and microplastics frequently co-occur in urban environments and can interact to increase combined toxicity.

2023 Global NEST International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology
Article Tier 2

The role of microplastic pollution in the modification of the physicochemical properties of arable soil and uptake of potential toxic elements by plants

Researchers conducted a series of studies analyzing how microplastic pollution modifies the physicochemical properties of arable soil and affects the uptake of potentially toxic heavy metals by plants, beginning with a comprehensive literature review of microplastic interactions with plant physiology, metals, pesticides, and pathogens.

2025 Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wrocławiu
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

Microbial responses towards biochar application in potentially toxic element (PTE) contaminated soil: a critical review on effects and potential mechanisms

Researchers reviewed how biochar — a charcoal-like material made from organic waste — can protect soil microorganisms from toxic heavy metal contamination by reducing metal availability and improving soil conditions. The review found that biochar addition consistently shifted microbial communities toward healthier, more diverse compositions, offering a practical soil remediation strategy aligned with sustainability goals.

2023 Biochar 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Constructing Soils to Mitigate Land Occupation by Urban Expansion and Metabolism to Improve Healthy Cities

This review examines how engineered soils, known as technosols, can help mitigate the environmental impact of urban expansion by restoring soil functions in cities. Researchers discussed strategies for constructing soils that provide ecosystem services like stormwater management, carbon storage, and pollution filtration. The study highlights that building functional urban soils is an important tool for creating healthier and more sustainable cities.

2024 Land 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Urban mining: Phytoextraction of noble and rare earth elements from urban soils

This review examines phytomining as a technology for recovering platinum group elements and rare earth metals from roadside soils contaminated by vehicle exhaust, catalytic converter wear, and road infrastructure. The authors synthesize research on metal accumulation sources, quantities, and plant species suitable for phytoextraction, presenting phytomining as a novel approach to urban resource recovery.

2023 Archives of Environmental Protection 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Organomineral fertilizer from sewage sludge: nutrient recycling and environmental safety for tropical agriculture

Not relevant to microplastics — this study evaluates an organomineral fertiliser derived from sewage sludge for tropical agriculture, focusing on nutrient recycling and heavy metal safety.

2023 1 citations
Review Tier 2

Effect of landfill leachates on urban soil: A review

This review examines how landfill leachate — which contains heavy metals, organic compounds, and emerging contaminants — affects urban soils, in the context of global concerns about the 1.4 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste deposited in landfills annually.

2024 Plant Science Today