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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Wind erosion induced low-density microplastics migration at landscape scale in a semi-arid region of northern China
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.
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.
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.
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.
Atmospheric Microplastics Emission Source Potentials and Deposition Patterns in Semi‐Arid Croplands of Northern China
Researchers measured atmospheric microplastic emissions from croplands in semi-arid northern China, where wind erosion events are common. They found that fiber-shaped particles dominated airborne microplastics and that concentrations increased significantly when air masses passed over cropland surfaces. The study reveals that agricultural land in dry regions may be an underrecognized source of airborne microplastic pollution.
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.
Agricultural plastic mulching as a source of microplastics in the terrestrial environment
Researchers analyzed 384 soil samples from 19 Chinese provinces and found that macroplastic fragments were concentrated in agricultural fields with plastic mulch film use, providing large-scale field evidence linking agricultural mulching to terrestrial plastic contamination.
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.
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.
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.
Amount and characteristics of microplastic and organic matter in wind-blown sediment at different heights within the aeolian sand saltation layer
Researchers investigated microplastics in wind-blown sediment at different heights within the aeolian saltation layer over farmlands using plastic mulch, finding that wind erosion redistributes microplastics and enriches them at specific heights above the soil surface.
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.
Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in soils with different agricultural practices: Importance of sources with internal origin and environmental fate
Microplastic abundance and characteristics were examined in soils representing four agricultural practice types in Chinese farmland to evaluate the influence of land use on plastic particle accumulation. Microplastic concentrations and polymer types varied by agricultural practice, with plastic mulch film use and irrigation water source as key drivers of farmland soil contamination.
Duration- and area-dependent influences of plastic film mulch on soil microplastics abundance
Researchers conducted a field campaign combined with remote sensing to investigate how the duration and coverage area of plastic film mulching affect microplastic abundance in agricultural soils in northern China's agro-pastoral ecotone, finding that microplastic concentrations ranged from 41.7 to 787.5 items per kilogram and positively correlated with mulching duration.
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.
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.
Occurrence characteristics, source analysis, and risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural soils: A case study on Shihezi Reclamation Area, Xinjiang, China
Microplastic occurrence was characterized in agricultural soils of the Shihezi Reclamation Area, Xinjiang — a region with decades of plastic film mulching — finding high-density PE and PP fragments as dominant types, with mulch film degradation as the primary source.
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.
Characteristics of microplastics in dryland soils after long‐term film mulching and the effect of cropping type in western Liaoning Province, China
Fields in a semi-arid region of China that had been covered with agricultural plastic film for over a decade showed significant microplastic accumulation in the soil, with fragment shapes dominating and concentrations varying by crop type. Different crops influenced both the abundance and characteristics of microplastic particles, likely due to differences in tillage, root activity, and film use patterns. This study adds to growing evidence that agricultural plastic mulching is a major driver of farmland microplastic pollution with potential consequences for soil health and crop safety.
Spatiotemporal distribution and potential sources of atmospheric microplastic deposition in a semiarid urban environment of Northwest China
Atmospheric microplastic deposition in a semiarid urban environment in northwest China ranged from 79.5 to 810.0 particles per square meter per day, with peak deposition in summer, fibres and fragments dominating, and source analysis pointing to local plastic products and waste as primary contributors.