Papers

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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

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

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

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

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in different zones of waste landfill site: A case study of Hamadan, Iran

Researchers conducted the first study of microplastic abundance across different zones of a landfill in Hamadan, Iran, finding staggeringly high concentrations — up to 76,513 particles per kilogram of dry soil — in leachate lagoon areas where plastic-contaminated liquid collects. Fibers made up 71% of particles and LDPE and HDPE plastics dominated, highlighting landfills as a major but overlooked source of microplastic pollution.

2023 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 16 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

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

Microplastics and Their Distribution in Soil at Municipal Solid Waste Landfills: A Review

This review investigated microplastic contamination across soil layers at urban municipal solid waste landfill sites, finding that landfill age and waste composition influence MP type and distribution. It identified landfill soils as understudied long-term MP reservoirs with potential for leaching into surrounding environments.

2024 Avicenna Journal of Environmental Health Engineering
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

Toxic Compounds Tracing Related to the Microplastic and Microrubber Waste in the Soil around Municipal Solid Waste Landfill in Southwest Iran and Estimating Their Associated Human Exposure Risk

Researchers characterized toxic compounds associated with microplastic and microrubber waste from the textile industry, identifying chemical additives and sorbed pollutants that could be released into the environment. The findings highlight how waste tire and rubber particles carry complex chemical mixtures.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Toxic and Radioactive Waste
Article Tier 2

Distribution and potential health impacts of microplastics and microrubbers in air and street dusts from Asaluyeh County, Iran

Researchers collected street dust and air samples from an industrial area in Iran and found significant quantities of microplastics and microrubber particles that could be inhaled or ingested by residents. The particles varied widely in size, color, and polymer type, with concentrations highest near industrial and urban zones. The study provides some of the first evidence that airborne microplastics in terrestrial environments represent a meaningful human exposure pathway.

2018 Environmental Pollution 719 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Microplastics and Associated Heavy Metals in Urban Soils Affected by Anthropogenic Littering: Distribution, Spatial Variation, and Influence of Soil Properties

Researchers sampled soils across residential, commercial, and industrial land-use types in urban areas and found microplastics in every location, with polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyamide as the dominant polymer types, at concentrations up to 850,000 particles per kilogram. Heavy metals were also associated with the plastic particles, meaning microplastics in urban soil may serve as combined carriers of chemical toxicants. The findings highlight urban soil as a major but underappreciated reservoir of microplastic pollution.

2023 Soil and Sediment Contamination An International Journal 13 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

Microplastics contamination in the soil from Urban Landfill site, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in soil samples from an urban landfill site in Dhaka, Bangladesh. They found microplastics in all samples, predominantly fibers and fragments made of polyethylene and polypropylene, with concentrations varying across the landfill. The study provides some of the first evidence of terrestrial microplastic pollution in Bangladesh and identifies urban landfills as significant reservoirs of soil microplastic contamination.

2020 Heliyon 142 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastic, metals associated and ecological risk assessment in the topsoil of shiraz metropolis, south west of Iran

Researchers surveyed topsoil across the city of Shiraz, Iran and found microplastics in all sample types, with urban soils containing roughly three times more particles than industrial or agricultural soils. Fragments and small particles between 100 and 250 micrometers were the most common forms detected. The study also found that metals like lead, zinc, and copper tend to accumulate on microplastic surfaces, potentially increasing the ecological risk these particles pose.

2023 Chemosphere 21 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

Spatiotemporal distribution and ecological hazards of microplastic pollution in soil water resources around a wastewater treatment plant and municipal solid waste site

Researchers mapped the spatial and seasonal distribution of microplastics in soil, water, and sediment near a wastewater treatment plant and municipal landfill in northern India. They found elevated microplastic concentrations in leachate and areas immediately surrounding both facilities, with seasonal variations in contamination levels. The study highlights that both wastewater treatment plants and solid waste sites serve as significant local sources of microplastic pollution to surrounding environments.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, distribution, and ecological risks of microplastics in urban and agricultural topsoil of Mian-Ab Plain, Iran

Researchers mapped microplastic contamination across 102 soil samples in an arid Iranian plain using GIS mapping and advanced spectroscopy, finding the highest concentrations near urban centers and an average of nearly 12 microplastic particles per kilogram of soil. Children faced roughly double the estimated ingestion exposure compared to adults, and the dominant plastic types — PET, polystyrene, polypropylene, and nylon — pointed to mixed household and agricultural sources.

2025 Discover Applied Sciences 2 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

Characteristics and potential risks of microplastics in the soil near landfill in Anyang, China

Soil samples collected around a large landfill in Anyang, China contained between 900 and 4,900 microplastic particles per kilogram, dominated by fibers and films smaller than 0.5 mm, with rayon and polypropylene as the most common polymers. Overall contamination was classified as moderate with low ecological risk, but soil texture was the main factor influencing how microplastics distributed themselves — not organic matter or pH. The results suggest landfills are meaningful point sources of soil microplastic contamination to surrounding land.

2026 Journal of Environmental Exposure Assessment
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

Identification, characterization, and implications of microplastics in soil – A case study of Bhopal, central India

Researchers identified and characterized microplastics in soils from Bhopal, central India, documenting their occurrence, distribution, and polymer composition to assess the extent of soil contamination from poor plastic waste management practices.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 97 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