Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Sample Collection, Preparation, and Identification of Microplastics in Soil: Issues and Recommendations

An evaluation of microplastic sampling and identification protocols from 39 global soil studies found major inconsistencies in sample collection strategies, preparation methods, and detection techniques, and proposed standardized recommendations to improve data comparability.

2025 Sustainability Sciences in Asia and Africa
Article Tier 2

Quality assessment of research studies on microplastics in soils: A methodological perspective

A methodological quality assessment of published soil microplastic studies identified widespread inconsistencies in extraction, identification, and reporting protocols that limit comparability and reliability of findings. The review recommends adoption of standardized quality criteria to improve the rigor and reproducibility of soil microplastic research.

2022 Chemosphere 13 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Investigating microplastic dynamics in soils: Orientation for sampling strategies and sample pre‐procession

This study develops improved methods for sampling and detecting microplastics in soil, addressing a major gap in current research. Standardized sampling strategies are essential because microplastic distribution in soil is highly variable, making it easy to miss contamination with inconsistent methods. Better detection protocols will help scientists accurately measure how much microplastic is accumulating in agricultural and natural soils.

2020 Land Degradation and Development 55 citations
Article Tier 2

A methodological approach of the current literature on microplastic contamination in terrestrial environments: Current knowledge and baseline considerations

This review of microplastic pollution in terrestrial and agricultural soils finds that a lack of standardized extraction and identification procedures makes most studies incomparable, calling for baseline contamination controls and harmonized reporting of concentrations, morphotypes, and analytical methods. The authors identify knowledge gaps for future research and provide minimum recommended procedures for field studies.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 155 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Global soil microplastic assessment in different land-use systems is largely determined by the method of analysis: A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis pooled data from 89 studies to measure microplastic levels in soils across different land uses worldwide. A key finding is that reported microplastic concentrations vary wildly depending on the testing method used, making it hard to compare studies. This highlights that before we can truly understand how much microplastic is in the soil that grows our food, scientists need to agree on standardized measurement methods.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic in Soil: a Review of Detection Methods

This review examines published approaches for detecting and identifying microplastics in soil environments, synthesizing sampling, extraction, and characterization methods to address the lack of standardization that hinders cross-study comparisons. Researchers found that unifying detection methods is essential for developing a common understanding of microplastic prevalence and impact in terrestrial ecosystems.

2024 Проблемы агрохимии и экологии
Article Tier 2

Soil microplastic analysis: a harmonized methodology

This review critically evaluates existing methods for sampling, separating, identifying, and quantifying microplastics in soils, and proposes a comprehensive eight-phase analytical methodology. Researchers emphasize that most current soil microplastic methods were adapted from marine research without adequately accounting for the complexity and heterogeneity of soil ecosystems. The study calls for globally coordinated standardization efforts to improve comparability of microplastic measurements across different soil studies.

2024 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Innovations in analytical methods to assess the occurrence of microplastics in soil

This review summarizes emerging techniques for extracting, analyzing, and characterizing microplastics in soil, noting that soil matrix complexity makes standardized methods challenging. Researchers found that globally, soil microplastic concentrations ranged up to 690,000 particles per kilogram, though most data comes from China. The study highlights the urgent need for standardized analytical methods to enable meaningful comparison of microplastic soil contamination across different studies and laboratories.

2022 Journal of environmental chemical engineering 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in soil: A comprehensive review of occurrence, sources, fate, analytical techniques and potential impacts

This review analyzed microplastic contamination data from 62 sites across 17 countries and found that soil microplastic levels varied enormously depending on land use, with agricultural and urban soils most contaminated. The plastics affected soil organisms, plants, and microorganisms in complex ways, but inconsistent sampling methods across studies make it difficult to compare results and determine safe exposure thresholds.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in soils: assessment, analytics and risks

This review examines microplastic prevalence, analytical methods, and risks in soils, finding that terrestrial microplastic contamination has received far less attention than marine accumulation despite comparable or greater abundance. Researchers evaluated current difficulties in soil microplastic sampling, isolation, and identification and called for standardised methodologies to assess ecological and human health risks.

2018 Environmental Chemistry 150 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics in sediments: A systematic review structured through reproducible analytical pipelines

This systematic review of 37 studies finds that microplastic research in sediments suffers from major differences in how samples are collected and analyzed. Without standardized methods, it is difficult to compare contamination levels across locations, which limits our ability to assess how much microplastic in soil and waterbed sediments might affect ecosystems and human health.

2026 Chemosphere
Article Tier 2

Sample Preparation Techniques for the Analysis of Microplastics in Soil—A Review

Sample preparation techniques for microplastic analysis in soil were reviewed and compared, noting that methods developed for aquatic systems are often inadequate for the complexity of soil matrices. The review highlights newly developed soil-specific methods and emphasizes the need for standardization to enable reliable comparison of terrestrial microplastic data.

2020 Sustainability 224 citations
Article Tier 2

A Cost-Effective Standardized Quantitative Detection Method for Soil Microplastics in Different Substrates

Scientists developed and validated a low-cost, standardized method for extracting and counting microplastics from different soil types—sandy, loam, and clay—achieving a 96.4% recovery rate at roughly $10 per sample in about 68 hours. The lack of consistent protocols has made it hard to compare microplastic data across studies globally, and this streamlined workflow directly addresses that problem. Better standardization will help researchers build a reliable picture of how contaminated agricultural soils really are worldwide.

2026 Toxics
Article Tier 2

A Simplified and Optimised Protocol for Microplastics Determination in Soil and Sludge Applied Soils

Researchers developed and validated a simplified, optimized protocol for determining microplastic concentrations in soil and sewage sludge, addressing the methodological inconsistency that currently makes comparison between global studies difficult.

2025 Sustainability Sciences in Asia and Africa
Article Tier 2

Methods to optimize the collection, pretreatment, extraction, separation, and examination of microplastics in soil, groundwater, and human samples

This review evaluates and compares methods for detecting microplastics in soil, groundwater, and human tissue samples, finding significant inconsistencies that make it hard to compare results across studies. Standardizing these detection methods is critical for accurately measuring human microplastic exposure and understanding its health effects.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in soils: a review of possible sources, analytical methods and ecological impacts

This review of over 60 studies examines the sources, global distribution, and analytical methods for microplastics in soil, finding that agricultural soils are particularly contaminated via sewage sludge application, plastic mulch, and atmospheric deposition. The authors call for standardized extraction and identification protocols to enable cross-study comparisons.

2020 Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology 242 citations
Article Tier 2

Systematic assessment of data quality and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) of current research on microplastics in biosolids and agricultural soils

A systematic quality assessment of studies reporting microplastics in biosolids and agricultural soils found significant heterogeneity in concentrations attributable to differences in sampling protocols, analytical methods, and quality assurance practices, undermining cross-study comparisons.

2021 Environmental Pollution 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Research Progress on Separation and Detection Methods of Microplastics in Soil Environment

This review summarizes methods for separating and detecting microplastics in soil environments, identifying the most effective analytical approaches and highlighting the need for standardization to improve comparability across studies.

2022 Academic Journal of Science and Technology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Uniting Global Efforts to Combat Microplastic Pollution in Agricultural Soils: A Call for Harmonized Protocols and Collaborative Action

This paper calls for harmonized global protocols to address microplastic pollution in agricultural soils, which are highly susceptible to contamination from mulch films, biosolids, irrigation, and atmospheric deposition. Researchers note that current sampling and analysis methods lack consistency across regions, making it difficult to compare findings or develop effective management strategies. The study proposes a standardized framework for monitoring agricultural microplastics that accounts for diverse soil types and ensures reproducible results.

2025 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in soils: A comprehensive review

This comprehensive review summarizes what is known about microplastics in soil, covering their sources from agriculture, household waste, and industry, as well as how they move through and accumulate in different soil types. The review finds that current methods for measuring soil microplastics are inconsistent, making it difficult to accurately assess the true scale of contamination and its risks to food safety and human health.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in soils: A comparative review on extraction, identification and quantification methods

This review compares the various methods scientists use to extract, identify, and measure microplastics in soil, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Soil is a particularly challenging material to work with because its organic matter and complex structure can interfere with accurate microplastic detection. The authors recommend combining multiple techniques and minimizing harsh chemical steps that could accidentally destroy the very plastic particles being measured.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Strategy towards producing relevant and reliable data for the hazard assessment of micro- and nanoplastics in agricultural soils

This paper outlines a strategy for producing better scientific data on the hazards of micro and nanoplastics in agricultural soils. Current research suffers from a lack of standardized testing methods, unrealistic experimental conditions, and inconsistent materials, making it hard to draw reliable conclusions. The authors provide specific recommendations for more environmentally relevant experiments that could support meaningful regulations to protect soil ecosystems and food safety.

2024 TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Realistic Risk Assessment of Soil Microplastics Is Hampered by a Lack of Eligible Data on Particle Characteristics: A Call for Higher Reporting Standards

Researchers conducted a critical assessment of existing soil microplastic data quality, finding that a widespread lack of standardized reporting on particle characteristics — including size distribution, shape, and polymer type — severely hampers realistic risk assessment for soil-dwelling organisms and ecosystems. The viewpoint calls for higher and more consistent reporting standards across studies to enable meaningful synthesis and regulatory decision-making.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Development and application of tests for microplastic detection in soil

This thesis developed and evaluated methods for detecting and quantifying microplastics in soil samples, addressing the lack of standardized protocols for terrestrial environments. Accurate detection methods are essential for understanding how widespread microplastic contamination is in agricultural and natural soils.

2021 1 citations