Papers

61,005 results
|
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 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

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

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

A review of soil pollution around municipal solid waste landfills in Iran and comparable instances from other parts of the world

This review examines soil pollution around landfills in Iran and worldwide, covering heavy metals, toxic hydrocarbons, and microplastics as major contaminants. In developing countries like Iran, rapid urbanization and inadequate waste management are making the problem worse. The findings underscore that landfills are a significant source of microplastic contamination in surrounding soils and groundwater, posing ongoing risks to nearby communities.

2024 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 15 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

Exploring the abundance of microplastics in Indian landfill leachate: An analytical study

Researchers analyzed microplastics in leachate from two major landfills in India and found concentrations of 1,473 to 2,067 particles per liter, with most particles smaller than 100 micrometers. Polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, cellulose acetate, and PVC were the most common plastic types identified. Since landfill leachate can seep into groundwater and nearby water bodies, these findings raise concerns about microplastic contamination of drinking water sources near dump sites.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 17 citations
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
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in soil and leachate at different zones of unsanitary landfill

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in soil and leachate across young, middle-aged, and old zones of an unsanitary landfill. They found that fiber-shaped microplastics were most common, with PET, polypropylene, and polystyrene as the dominant polymers, and that leachate from middle-aged zones had significantly lower microplastic abundance than young or old zones. The study shows that landfill age and environmental degradation influence how microplastics are distributed between soil and leachate.

2025 Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characteristics of Microplastics in leachate and underneath soil of two informal landfills

Researchers investigated microplastic distribution in leachate and underlying soils at two informal landfill sites. They found high concentrations of microplastics in both leachate and soil samples, with abundance varying by depth and landfill characteristics. The study indicates that informal landfills are significant sources of microplastic contamination that can leach into surrounding soil and potentially reach groundwater.

2025 Waste Management 6 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

Abundances and characteristics of microplastics in core sediments of the Persian Gulf coast, Iran

Researchers sampled coastal sediments in Iran's Persian Gulf and found microplastics — including polystyrene, polyethylene, and PVC — at all six sites and at every depth down to 30 cm, averaging nearly 118 particles per kilogram of dry sediment. Fibers and fragments dominated, pointing to widespread plastic contamination from local waste mismanagement in this tidal ecosystem.

2024 Environmental Advances 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Landfill Leachates in Three Nordic Countries

Researchers found microplastics in leachates from 11 landfills across Finland, Iceland, and Norway, with particles detected in all samples and fiber morphotypes dominating, indicating that landfills are a significant but underquantified pathway for microplastic release to the environment.

2021 Detritus 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Pervasiveness and classification of microplastics in Landfill Leachate: Impacts, risks, and treatment efficiency

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination from the Matuail landfill in Bangladesh, finding that leachate discharged approximately 350 million particles per hour into surrounding water. Surface water and groundwater near the landfill contained even higher microplastic concentrations than the leachate itself, with fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene dominating. The study found that the existing leachate treatment facility was inefficient at removing microplastics, posing high ecological risk to surrounding water sources.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 10 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

Exploring the microplastic pollution: Unveiling origins and varieties in coastal sediments and waters of the Bushehr Province, Persian Gulf, Iran

Researchers conducted a comprehensive survey of microplastic pollution in coastal sediments and waters along the Persian Gulf in Iran. They found microplastics at all sampling sites, with the highest concentrations near petrochemical facilities and urban centers, and fibers being the most common type. The study establishes baseline pollution data for the region and links contamination levels to specific human activities.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis on microplastics in dug wells around Tamangapa Landfills, Makassar City, Indonesia

Researchers determined microplastic abundance in dug wells within 1 km of the Tamangapa Landfill in Makassar, Indonesia, finding that fibers (72%) and fragments (28%) were the dominant forms, with microplastic sizes ranging from 0.069 mm to 4.459 mm, suggesting landfill proximity as a contamination source.

2021 Gaceta Sanitaria 40 citations
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

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

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 elevated microplastic concentrations in areas adjacent to the high-volume waste disposal facility due to fragmentation of plastic debris under environmental weathering.

2024 Bumi
Article Tier 2

Coexistence of microplastic particles and heavy metals in landfill leachate: A case study of a landfill in Indonesia

Researchers analyzed microplastic and heavy metal contamination in leachate from an Indonesian landfill and found between 2,100 and 4,385 microplastic particles per liter, with older areas of the landfill producing higher concentrations. The dominant plastics were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyamide fragments and films, with zinc, lead, and other heavy metals attaching to the plastic particles. The study highlights that landfill leachate is a significant and underappreciated pathway for both microplastic and heavy metal contamination to enter surrounding environments.

2024 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Landfill Bodies: Abundance, Spatial Distribution and Effect of Landfill Age

Researchers examined microplastic distribution in landfill refuse across different age sections, finding that older landfill areas contain higher microplastic abundances, demonstrating that plastic waste progressively fragments into microplastics during long-term burial.

2023 Sustainability 33 citations
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

Prevalence of Microplastics in Coastal Area of Samae San, Thailand and Its Possible Source

Researchers examined microplastic abundance, morphology, and polymer composition across multiple environmental matrices in Samae San, Thailand, including soil near a dumping site, road dust, beach sand, and sediment, finding the highest concentration of 93,734.3 items per kilogram dry weight at the dumping site soil.

2024 Applied Environmental Research