Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Potential sources and occurrence of macro-plastics and microplastics pollution in farmland soils: A typical case of China

This study provides the first comprehensive survey of plastic pollution in Chinese farmland soil, analyzing data from 163 publications covering 728 sites. The average microplastic abundance was 4,537 particles per kilogram of dry soil, with agricultural plastic films and organic waste being the biggest sources. Since China is the world's largest user of agricultural plastics, these findings highlight how farming practices can lead to significant microplastic contamination of the soil that grows our food.

2023 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 162 citations
Article Tier 2

Research Progress of Soil Pollution and Its Remediation Technology

This review examines the combined soil pollution problem of heavy metals and microplastics in China, summarizing sources, ecological impacts, and remediation technologies including phytoremediation, bioremediation, and physicochemical approaches to restore contaminated agricultural land.

2025 Science and Technology of Engineering Chemistry and Environmental Protection
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in agricultural soils in China: Sources, impacts and solutions

This review examines microplastic contamination in Chinese agricultural soils, finding abundances ranging from about 5 to over 40,000 items per kilogram depending on location. The study identifies plastic mulching films as the most significant source, followed by abandoned greenhouses and organic fertilizers, and recommends sustainable agronomic practices to reduce soil microplastic pollution.

2023 Environmental Pollution 148 citations
Article Tier 2

Soil Pollution Status, Sources and Control Methods in China

This review examined soil pollution sources, status, and control methods in China, covering industrial activity, agriculture, and urbanization as primary drivers of contamination. The paper discussed how soil pollution degrades agricultural output, contaminates water, and affects air quality, and surveyed available remediation strategies.

2024 Academic Journal of Science and Technology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential sources and occurrence of macro-plastics and microplastics pollution in farmland soils: A typical case of China

This review examines plastic pollution in Chinese farmland soils, finding that agricultural practices like mulch film use and sewage sludge application are major sources of both macro- and microplastics that accumulate over time.

2023 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Status, characteristics, and ecological risks of microplastics in farmland surface soils cultivated with different crops across mainland China

Researchers conducted a nationwide survey of microplastics in farmland soils across mainland China, covering over 30 crop types in 109 cities. They found microplastics in all sampled soils, with concentrations varying by crop type, region, and farming practices such as plastic film mulching and irrigation methods. The study provides the most comprehensive picture to date of agricultural microplastic contamination in China and identifies the key farming practices that contribute most to soil pollution.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial Distributions, Compositional Profiles, Potential Sources, and Intfluencing Factors of Microplastics in Soils from Different Agricultural Farmlands in China: A National Perspective

Researchers conducted a nationwide survey of microplastics in Chinese agricultural soils, collecting 477 samples from 109 cities across 31 regions, and identified spatial distribution patterns and key factors influencing farmland microplastic contamination.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 130 citations
Article Tier 2

Agricultural Environmental Pollution, Risk Assessment, and Control

This book chapter reviews the growing burden of agricultural environmental pollution — from pesticide residues to microplastics and heavy metals — and evaluates risk assessment frameworks and control strategies for protecting soil health and food safety.

2025
Article Tier 2

Distinct microplastic distributions in soils of different land-use types: A case study of Chinese farmlands

Microplastic distribution across six types of farmland land use was surveyed from soils in five Chinese provinces to determine how agricultural practices shape soil microplastic contamination. The study found that microplastic abundance varied significantly by land-use type, with plastic mulch film use and irrigation practices as key contributing factors.

2020 Environmental Pollution 278 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of Soil Heavy Metal Pollution and Health Risks in Chenzhou City

Researchers analyzed 600 soil samples in Chenzhou City, China, and found that while most areas had low to moderate heavy metal contamination, about 3% of samples showed high ecological risk from metals like mercury and cadmium near industrial zones. While focused on heavy metals rather than microplastics, the study is relevant because microplastics in soil can absorb and transport these same toxic metals, potentially increasing human exposure through crops grown in contaminated areas.

2024 Processes 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Contaminants in Agriculture and Environment: Health Risks and Remediation

This book chapter reviewed contaminants in agricultural environments and their health risks, covering heavy metals, pesticides, and emerging pollutants including microplastics, and summarizing remediation strategies for both soil and crop systems. The authors discuss the intersection of food security and environmental contamination in modern agricultural production systems.

2019 Agro Environ Media - Agriculture and Ennvironmental Science Academy, Haridwar, India eBooks 86 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification and characterization of microplastics in farmland soils of Jiangsu Province, East China

Microplastic abundance in farmland soils across six plots in Jiangsu Province, China ranged from 667 to 9333 items per kilogram, with agricultural management practices and proximity to urban areas identified as key factors influencing contamination levels.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 15 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

National-scale distribution of micro(meso)plastics in farmland soils across China: Implications for environmental impacts

Farmland soils across 30 sites in China contained an average of 358 microplastic items/kg, with concentrations higher in arid northern regions; meta-analysis showed that while current soil levels are generally below minimum effective concentrations for harming crops and soil enzymes, they are approaching those thresholds.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 152 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Effects of agricultural land types on microplastic abundance: A nationwide meta-analysis in China

Meta-analysis of 321 observations across Chinese agricultural soils found that vegetable-growing soils had the highest microplastic contamination, followed by orchards, cropland, and grassland. Agricultural film mulch significantly increased soil microplastic levels, especially in orchards, while higher population density and economic activity correlated with increased contamination across all land types.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

The abundance, characteristics and distribution of microplastics (MPs) in farmland soil—Based on research in China

This review analyzed microplastic contamination in farmland soil across China and found that fertilizer use and plastic mulch film are the biggest contributors, increasing soil microplastic levels by 170% and 232% respectively. The most common types found were polyethylene and polypropylene fragments and fibers. These findings are concerning because microplastics in farm soil can be taken up by crops and enter the human food supply.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 92 citations
Article Tier 2

The Source, Distribution Characteristics,and Migration Behavior of Microplastic Pollutionin Soil Environment in China: A Review

Researchers reviewed how microplastics enter Chinese soils — mainly through plastic mulch films, sewage irrigation, and fertilizer application — and how they migrate through soil layers while carrying other pollutants with them. The review highlights that China's intensive agricultural practices make its soils among the most microplastic-contaminated on Earth, with implications for food safety and groundwater quality.

2024 Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 1 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

[Meta-analysis of the Occurrence Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Microplastics in Agricultural Soil in China].

This meta-analysis pooled data from studies across China to assess microplastic pollution in agricultural soil. The research found that microplastic levels vary by region and are influenced by factors like temperature, precipitation, and farming practices. Since agricultural soil is where food crops grow, understanding microplastic contamination in farmland is directly relevant to food safety and human health.

2025 PubMed 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial Risks of Microplastics in Soils and the Cascading Effects Thereof

Using data from over 3,000 field sites across China, researchers found that about 4.3% of soil ecosystems face ecological risk from microplastics, with agricultural soils being the most vulnerable at nearly 15%. Climate factors like temperature and precipitation, combined with human activities like plastic film use in farming, are the main drivers of risk. The study highlights that microplastic contamination in farm soil is a widespread problem that could affect the safety of crops grown for human consumption.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 8 citations
Article Tier 2

A case on source to soil to solutions: Distribution characteristics of microplastics in farmland soil of the largest vegetable base in Northwest China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in farmland soil at the largest vegetable growing region in northwest China, finding an average of nearly 2,000 particles per kilogram of soil. Greenhouse-farmed soil had more microplastics than open-field soil, and contamination increased with years of farming, with plastic mulch film, irrigation water, and fertilizer all contributing to the pollution. While current levels were assessed as low ecological risk, the steady accumulation over time raises concerns about long-term food safety in intensively farmed regions.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 42 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 282 citations