Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The potential contribution of microplastic pollution by organic fertilizers in agricultural soils of Bangladesh: quantification, characterization, and risk appraisals

Researchers found an average of 1,530 microplastic particles per kilogram of commercial organic fertilizer in Bangladesh, estimating that annual fertilizer application could introduce up to 1,387 metric tons of microplastics to agricultural soils nationwide.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Science 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination of Non-Mulched Agricultural Soils in Bangladesh: Detection, Characterization, Source Apportionment and Probabilistic Health Risk Assessment

Researchers found microplastics in agricultural soil across Bangladesh at all depths tested, even though the fields did not use plastic mulch film. Eight different plastic types were identified, with concentrations varying by location, and coastal areas had the highest levels. The study suggests that irrigation water and organic fertilizers are introducing microplastics to farmland, potentially entering the food chain through crops grown in contaminated soil.

2024 Journal of Xenobiotics 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Macro and microplastics in the soil: abundance, characterization, identification, and interactions under different land uses in an agricultural sub-basin

Researchers examined the abundance, characterization, identification, and interactions of macro- and microplastics in soils under different land uses within an agricultural sub-basin, assessing how land-use patterns influence plastic pollution distribution and potential interactions with the soil environment.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Abundance, spatial distribution, and characteristics of microplastics in agricultural soils and their relationship with contributing factors

Researchers found microplastic concentrations of 2,800 to 82,500 particles per kilogram in agricultural soils of Hainan Island, China, with plastic mulching, farming practices, and environmental factors all contributing to spatial variation in contamination levels.

2022 Journal of Environmental Management 88 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of microplastics pollution in the soil and terrestrial ecosystems: A global and Bangladesh perspective

This review examined microplastic pollution in soils and terrestrial ecosystems from both global and Bangladesh perspectives. Researchers found that while microplastics are well-studied in aquatic environments, their presence in agricultural soils poses a largely unexplored threat to food safety, with evidence suggesting microplastics can transfer from soil through terrestrial agriculture into the human food chain.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 209 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

Spatial distribution and ecological risks of microplastics in agricultural soils near a solid waste dumpsite in southwest Bangladesh

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in agricultural soils surrounding a municipal solid waste dumpsite in southwest Bangladesh, characterizing the types, spatial distribution, and ecological risks. They found significant microplastic accumulation in soils near the dump, with contamination levels decreasing at greater distances. The study highlights that waste dumpsites are important point sources of microplastic pollution that can affect the fertility and ecological health of surrounding agricultural lands.

2026 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Article Tier 2

Identification of microplastics from urban informal solid waste landfill soil; MP associations with COD and chloride

Researchers identified microplastic concentrations of 180–1,120 particles per kilogram of soil in an urban informal landfill in India, with fragments and fibers as the dominant shapes, and found that microplastic presence altered key soil properties including conductivity and moisture content.

2022 Water Science & Technology 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Influences of land use and depth profile on the characteristics of microplastics in agricultural soils

Researchers examined how land use and soil depth profile influence microplastic characteristics in agricultural soils, finding that wastewater and sludge application, plastic mulching, and atmospheric deposition are key sources, and that MP type and abundance vary with soil management practice and depth, highlighting the importance of vertical distribution in soil MP studies.

2025
Article Tier 2

Risk assessment of microplastic pollution in an industrial region of Bangladesh

Scientists assessed microplastic pollution in industrial soil from Narayanganj, Bangladesh, finding contamination in all 12 samples tested, with fibers being the most common particle type. A pollution risk assessment classified the area as having a moderate to high level of microplastic contamination. This study highlights how industrial regions in developing countries face significant microplastic soil pollution that could affect nearby communities through dust, water, and locally grown food.

2023 Heliyon 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics abundance associated with farmland use types and the impact on soil microbial communities: A case study in Southern China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across orchard, paddy field, and vegetable field soils in Southern China and analyzed how it affected soil microbial communities. They found microplastic levels ranging widely across sites, with very small particles under 30 micrometers being most common, and identified 32 different polymer types. The study shows that farmland use type and agricultural practices like plastic mulching significantly influence both the amount and type of microplastic contamination in soils.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Current scenario and challenges of plastic pollution in Bangladesh: a focus on farmlands and terrestrial ecosystems

Researchers reviewed the sources, dispersion routes, and environmental consequences of plastic waste across global and Bangladesh-specific contexts, finding that inadequate infrastructure and limited resources make plastic pollution — including microplastics entering agricultural soils, marine environments, and food chains — an especially acute threat in developing countries.

2022 Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering 44 citations
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

Occurrence, distribution, and characteristics of microplastics in agricultural soil around a solid waste treatment center in southeast China

Researchers found microplastic contamination in all agricultural soil samples surrounding a solid waste treatment center in southeastern China, with concentrations up to 2,360 particles per kilogram and evidence that weathered polyethylene and polypropylene particles are accumulating heavy metals on their surfaces.

2022 Journal of Soils and Sediments 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Significant influence of land use types and anthropogenic activities on the distribution of microplastics in soil: A case from a typical mining-agricultural city

Scientists surveyed microplastic pollution across five types of land in a Chinese mining-agricultural city and found the highest levels in greenhouse farmland, with nearly 3,738 particles per kilogram of soil. Agricultural plastic waste, irrigation water, and fertilizers were identified as the main sources of contamination. The study shows that farming practices are major contributors to microplastic buildup in the soil that produces our food.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Residential Soils

Researchers collected surface soil from three residential density zones in Surabaya, Indonesia, and characterized microplastics by abundance, shape, color, and polymer type. Microplastics were present in all samples, with concentrations higher in denser residential areas, likely reflecting greater per-capita plastic use and outdoor plastic degradation.

2025 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
Article Tier 2

Quantification and identification of microplastics in organic fertilizers: the implication for the manufacture and safe application

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in 23 commercial organic fertilizers, finding widespread presence at levels that could meaningfully contribute to agricultural soil pollution when fertilizers are applied. The results raise concerns about organic fertilizers as an underappreciated pathway for microplastics entering farm soils and the food system.

2022 6 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

Are Agricultural Soils Dumps for Microplastics of Urban Origin?

Researchers investigated whether agricultural soils serve as dumping grounds for urban-origin microplastics, finding evidence that sewage sludge application and atmospheric deposition deliver city-sourced plastics to farmland.

2016 Environmental Science & Technology 1621 citations
Article Tier 2

An evaluation on microplastic accumulations in Turkish soils under different land uses

Researchers analyzed 55 soil samples from agricultural and urban areas across three Turkish regions, finding higher microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils (averaging 193 particles/kg) than urban soils, with polyethylene fibers under 1 mm dominating both land use types.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 44 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
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

Microplastic abundance at differences agricultural practices: a case study in Tanjong Karang, Selangor

Microplastics were found in agricultural soils in Malaysia at concentrations influenced by farming intensity, with fields using more plastic mulch and irrigation showing higher contamination levels.

2023 UiTM Institutional Repositories (Universiti Teknologi MARA)
Article Tier 2

Identification of factors influencing the microplastic distribution in agricultural soil on Hainan Island

Researchers surveyed agricultural soils across Hainan Island and found microplastics in every sample, with concentrations averaging 417 items per kilogram. The study identified soil pH, organic matter content, and temperature as key factors influencing microplastic fragmentation, while population density and tourism activity affected how much plastic entered the soil.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 72 citations