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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastic transport during desertification in drylands: Abundance and characterization of soil microplastics in the Amu Darya-Aral Sea basin, Central Asia
ClearMicroplastic abundance and distribution in a Central Asian desert
Microplastics were found in desert sediments of Central Asia at concentrations similar to levels reported in some ocean surface samples, with fibers dominating and their deposition attributed to wind-driven atmospheric transport, establishing that even arid, sparsely populated deserts are not immune to global microplastic dispersal.
Microplastic Contamination in Urban, Farmland and Desert Environments along a Highway in Southern Xinjiang, China
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination along a highway in arid Xinjiang, China, finding pollution across urban, farmland, and desert environments, with polyester and polyethylene being the dominant polymer types and concentrations highest near urban areas.
Microplastics in agricultural soils from a semi-arid region and their transport by wind erosion
Researchers found microplastics heterogeneously distributed in agricultural soils from semi-arid Iran, with plastic-mulched and wastewater-irrigated fields both contaminated, and demonstrated that wind erosion can transport microplastics from soil surfaces to new locations.
A neglected transport of plastic debris to cities from farmland in remote arid regions
Researchers found that wind erosion in semiarid farmland regions transports significant quantities of plastic debris, including microplastics, to distant urban areas, identifying a previously neglected long-range transport pathway in arid environments.
Microplastics in arid soils: Impact of different cropping systems (Altay, Xinjiang)
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in farmland soils in an arid region of China, finding extremely high concentrations averaging over 52,000 particles per kilogram of soil. Polyethylene from plastic mulch film accounted for over 90% of the microplastics, with fields growing tall crops like sunflower and maize showing more contamination than potato fields. The study demonstrates that agricultural plastic mulch use is a major source of soil microplastic pollution, particularly in arid farming regions.
Microplastics in the Lut and Kavir Deserts, Iran
Researchers collected soil samples from various geomorphological features in Iran's Lut and Kavir deserts — two of the most remote and arid environments on Earth — and found microplastics at all sites, demonstrating that plastic contamination has reached even extreme desert environments far from human activity.
Resuspension of microplastic particles from arid regions and global impacts on atmospheric concentrations and deposition
Researchers modeled how microplastics from arid and semi-arid regions are resuspended by wind and transported globally through the atmosphere. The simulations showed that desert regions can be significant secondary sources of airborne microplastic particles, contributing to plastic deposition even in remote ecosystems far from human activity.
Occurrence status of microplastics in main agricultural areas of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
Agricultural soils in Xinjiang, China, were surveyed for microplastic contamination, revealing widespread presence in major farming regions where plastic mulch films and irrigation systems are heavily used. The study provides one of the first regional-scale assessments of microplastic pollution in this important agricultural area.
Atmospheric transport of microplastics during a dust storm
Researchers analyzed microplastics deposited during a dust storm in Shiraz, Iran, and found concentrations ranging from 0.04 to 1.06 particles per gram of dust. The study suggests that the majority of microplastics originated from distant desert sources rather than local urban areas, indicating that dust storms may be a significant mechanism for transporting and redistributing microplastics across arid regions.
Evaluation of niche, diversity, and risks of microplastics in farmland soils of different rocky desertification areas
Researchers evaluated microplastic pollution in farmland soils across different levels of rocky desertification in Guizhou, China. The study found that microplastic diversity, distribution, and ecological risks varied significantly across desertification levels, suggesting that land degradation status influences how microplastics accumulate and behave in agricultural soils.
Microplastic characteristic in the soil across the Tibetan Plateau
Researchers systematically investigated microplastic pollution across the Tibetan Plateau, finding widespread contamination averaging 47 items per kilogram of soil, with fibers predominating and concentrations influenced by proximity to human activities.
Quantification of wind-driven MP mobilisation potential in semi-arid regions in Kazakhstan using wind tunnel experiments
Researchers used wind tunnel experiments to quantify wind-driven microplastic mobilisation potential in the semi-arid steppe landscape of northeastern Kazakhstan, finding that the loess soils, flat terrain, and erosive climate create conditions for significant aeolian MP emission particularly as modern agricultural intensification increases plastic inputs.
Assessment of Microplastic Pollution and Risks in the Region of “Wuchangshi,” China
Atmospheric and soil microplastics were measured across five cities in China's Xinjiang region, finding that airborne microplastic concentrations exceeded soil surface concentrations by up to three times, with fibers and polyethylene/polypropylene dominating. The study highlights that even inland, arid regions far from industrial centers accumulate significant microplastic pollution, expanding the known geographic reach of the contamination.
Microplastic in an Arid Region: Identification, Quantification and Characterization on and Alongside Roads in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in road dust, roadside soils, and stormwater runoff in Al Ain City, Abu Dhabi, identifying tire wear material, fibers, and degraded plastic bag and bottle fragments as dominant particle types and finding that Aeolian (wind-driven) transport is likely more important than water transport in this arid region.
Microplastic Pollution in The Topsoil of Hot And Dried Areas, Human Exposure and Source Assessment, Aghili Plain, Iran
This study measured microplastic abundance, types, and distribution in topsoil from a hot, dry agricultural region in Iran. Microplastics were found across all sampling sites, with polyethylene and polypropylene being most common, likely from agricultural plastic films. The authors assessed potential human exposure through dust inhalation and found it could be a significant exposure route.
Driving factors and sources of microplastics in soils in the Yellow River source area
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in soils across the remote Yellow River source region on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. They found that even in this sparsely populated area, microplastics were present at an average of about 75 particles per kilogram of soil, primarily from tourism, traffic, and grazing activities. The study reveals that human activities introduce microplastics to even the most remote plateau environments, with roadside dust and atmospheric transport being major pathways.
The occurrence of microplastics in farmland and grassland soils in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau: Different land use and mulching time in facility agriculture
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in farmland and grassland soils on the remote Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. The study found an average of about 50 microplastic particles per kilogram of soil, with plastic film and polyester being the most common types. Notably, longer use of plastic mulch in farming was linked to higher microplastic levels, suggesting that agricultural plastic use is a key source of soil contamination even in remote regions.
Distribution Characteristics of Atmospheric Microplastics in Typical Desert Agricultural Regions
Researchers characterized atmospheric microplastics in desert agricultural regions surrounding the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, China, using both active and passive collection methods. Polypropylene and polyethylene were the dominant polymer types, with particles entering the atmosphere from agricultural plastic films.
The Hidden Threat of Microplastics in Desert Environments: Environmental Impact, Challenges, and Response Measures
This review examines the overlooked problem of microplastic pollution in desert environments, which cover 45% of Earth's land area. Extreme desert conditions like high UV radiation, large temperature swings, and strong winds accelerate the breakdown and spread of microplastics from sources like tourism waste, agricultural materials, and atmospheric transport. The accumulating microplastics negatively affect local microbial life, crop yields, and wildlife reproduction in these fragile ecosystems.
Sandstorms contribute to the atmospheric microplastic pollution: Transport and accumulation from degraded lands to a megacity
Researchers studied how sandstorms transport microplastics from degraded lands to a major city and found surprisingly high deposition rates during storm events. They traced the transport pathways and discovered that sandstorms can carry microplastics hundreds of kilometers, significantly increasing urban atmospheric microplastic levels. The study reveals that degraded and arid landscapes serve as important but overlooked sources of airborne microplastic pollution.
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.
Effects of soil properties and land use patterns on the distribution of microplastics: A case study in southwest China
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in soils across different land use types in Guizhou Province, southwest China. The study found that soil properties and land use patterns significantly influence microplastic abundance and distribution, with agricultural and urban soils generally showing higher contamination levels than less intensively managed areas.
Analysis of microplastics in soils on the high-altitude area of the Tibetan Plateau: Multiple environmental factors
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in soils across different land use types on the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau, a remote and sparsely populated region. The study found that microplastic abundance varied with land use, altitude, meteorological conditions, and distance from roads, with greenhouse soils showing the highest concentrations, indicating that even remote high-altitude environments are not free from microplastic pollution.
Influence of soil characteristics and agricultural practices on microplastic concentrations in sandy soils and their association with heavy metal contamination
Researchers studied microplastic contamination in agricultural soils that use plastic mulch in arid regions and found significantly higher concentrations in mulched fields compared to control sites. They identified eight different polymer types and found that microplastic levels increased with the duration of mulching use, with heavy metals like iron and nickel accumulating on the plastic particles. The study highlights how agricultural plastic use contributes to long-term soil contamination and the potential for microplastics to serve as carriers of metal pollutants in farmland.