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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Amount and characteristics of microplastic and organic matter in wind-blown sediment at different heights within the aeolian sand saltation layer
ClearMicroplastics 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.
Plastic mulch film induced soil microplastic enrichment and its impact on wind-blown sand and dust
Field experiments in semi-arid northern China showed that plastic mulch film use significantly enriched microplastics in surface soils compared to unfilmed plots, and that wind-blown sand and dust from mulched farmland transported microplastics to surrounding environments.
Wind erosion as a driver for transport of light density microplastics
Researchers investigated wind erosion as a transport mechanism for microplastics across different land uses in Iran and found that wind-eroded sediments contained significant quantities of light-density microplastic particles. Agricultural and barren lands showed higher microplastic concentrations in wind-eroded material. The study identifies wind as an important but overlooked pathway for spreading microplastic contamination across landscapes.
Entrainment and horizontal atmospheric transport of microplastics from soil
Researchers investigated the mechanisms by which microplastics become entrained from soil into the atmosphere, finding that wind-driven processes can transport plastic particles horizontally near the ground surface, establishing agricultural soils as a significant source of airborne microplastics.
Microplastics are released from agricultural soils to the atmosphere by wind erosion
Researchers measured microplastics released from agricultural soils into the air by wind erosion in vegetable-growing fields in Iran. Using a portable wind tunnel, they quantified plastic particles in both soil and wind-eroded sediment. The findings confirm that agricultural soils are a source of airborne microplastics, adding to the pathways by which plastic particles from farmlands reach remote environments.
The effects of sediment properties on the aeolian abrasion and surface characteristics of microplastics
Laboratory experiments quantified how sediment properties influence the rate at which wind abrades and fragments exposed microplastics, generating smaller particles. The results improve understanding of aeolian (wind-driven) microplastic fragmentation as a source of airborne micro- and nanoplastics in arid environments.
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.
Influence of microplastics on small-scale soil surface roughness and implications for wind transport of microplastic particles
Researchers investigated how microplastics mixed into soil affect surface roughness at small scales, finding that microplastics altered surface texture in ways that could increase soil susceptibility to wind erosion and promote atmospheric transport of microplastic particles.
Wind erosion induced low-density microplastics migration at landscape scale in a semi-arid region of northern China
Researchers sampled agricultural fields with plastic film mulching and adjacent downwind grasslands in a semi-arid region of northern China, finding that wind erosion transported low-density microplastic fragments at landscape scale from agricultural sources into natural grassland ecosystems.
The occurrence of microplastic in Mu Us Sand Land soils in northwest China: Different soil types, vegetation cover and restoration years
Microplastic distribution and characteristics were investigated in Mu Us Sand Land soils in northwest China across different vegetation cover types and restoration stages. Microplastic concentrations varied with vegetation cover and restoration age, suggesting that ecological restoration activities and wind dynamics in sandy soils influence plastic particle deposition and redistribution.
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.
Macroplastic surface characteristics change during wind abrasion
Laboratory wind tunnel experiments showed that wind-driven abrasion of macroplastics on sandy surfaces produces distinct surface features and generates secondary microplastic particles, demonstrating that wind erosion is a meaningful pathway for plastic fragmentation in arid and coastal environments.
Are we underestimating microplastic emissions from agricultural soils?
This review examines evidence that wind erosion from agricultural soils in drylands is a significant and underestimated source of atmospheric microplastic emissions. The authors argue that existing emission inventories focus too heavily on urban and aquatic sources, and that dryland agricultural soils—covering 40% of Earth's land surface—likely emit substantial quantities of plastic particles through wind erosion.
Homogeneity of Sand-SizedMicroplastics Concentrationand Polymer Assemblage in Beach and Coastal Dune Sediments
Researchers examined the homogeneity of sand-sized microplastic concentrations and polymer assemblages in beach sediments, finding implications for how microplastics are transported by wind into coastal dune ecosystems where they affect plant growth.
Microplastic transport and deposition in a beach-dune system (Saunton Sands-Braunton Burrows, southwest England)
Microplastics were quantified and characterized in a large beach-dune complex in southwest England, finding concentrations that varied across the system and providing evidence for transport of microplastics from beach to dune habitats via aeolian processes.
Microplastic Accumulation in Agricultural Soils with Different Mulching Histories in Xinjiang, China
Researchers found that microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils of Xinjiang, China increases significantly with mulching history, with fields mulched for over 20 years containing substantially more microplastics across all soil layers.
Is plastic dust different from mineral dust? Results from idealized wind tunnel experiments.
Researchers conducted wind tunnel experiments to compare how plastic particles of different sizes detach from flat surfaces in wind compared to mineral dust particles. Plastic particles required higher wind speeds to become airborne than mineral dust of similar size, likely due to shape differences. These findings inform atmospheric transport models for predicting how far and how much microplastic can be carried by wind across the landscape.
Vertical distributions of microplastics in long-term mulched soils and their potential impacts on soil properties and microbial diversity
Microplastic concentrations were measured at different depths in agricultural soils that had been mulched with plastic film over many years, finding vertical stratification with higher concentrations near the surface. Long-term plastic mulching leads to progressive accumulation of microplastics throughout the soil profile.
Microplastic appraisal of soil, water, ditch sediment and airborne dust: The case of agricultural systems
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across agricultural soils, water, airborne dust, and ditch sediments in farm settings with different management practices. They found 11 types of microplastics in soil, with the highest concentrations in fields using plastic mulch, and documented the spread of particles into nearby water bodies and air. The study reveals that both plastic mulch and compost application contribute to microplastic pollution in agricultural landscapes.
Soil susceptibility to wind erosion drives the abundance of microplastics in remote Scottish soils
Researchers found that microplastic concentrations in remote Scottish soils correlated strongly with local wind erosion patterns rather than proximity to human activity. The findings suggest that wind-driven soil movement is a key mechanism spreading plastic pollution to isolated landscapes far from pollution sources.