Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

High abundance of microplastics in groundwater in Jiaodong Peninsula, China

Researchers detected microplastics in groundwater at all five sampling sites in the Jiaodong Peninsula of China, with concentrations ranging from 87 to 6,832 particles per liter and averaging 2,103 particles per liter. Particles smaller than 100 micrometers accounted for over 90% of the total, and concentrations correlated with proximity to industrial and agricultural activities above ground.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination in groundwater of a drinking-water source area, northern China

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in shallow groundwater from a major drinking-water source area in northern China. The study found microplastics present in groundwater samples, with their abundance, morphology, and chemical composition varying across the study area and correlating with nearby human activities.

2022 Environmental Research 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in waters and soils: Occurrence, analytical methods and ecotoxicological effects

Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of microplastic occurrence, analytical methods, and ecotoxicological effects in freshwater and soil environments. The study summarized microplastic abundance across several Chinese freshwater systems and highlighted that while marine microplastic pollution receives the most attention, freshwater and soil contamination deserve greater research focus.

2020 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 146 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

The distribution of microplastics in soil aggregate fractions in southwestern China

Researchers investigated microplastic distribution across different soil types in agricultural and forested areas near a lake in southwestern China and found plastic particles in every sample, with concentrations as high as 42,960 particles per kilogram. Approximately 95% of the particles fell within the microplastic size range, and fibers were the dominant form, likely originating from textiles and agricultural materials. The study demonstrates that microplastic contamination in soils is extensive and varies with land use practices.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 1282 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of soil properties and land use patterns on the distribution of microplastics: A case study in southwest China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in soils across different land use types in Guizhou Province, southwest China. The study found that soil properties and land use patterns significantly influence microplastic abundance and distribution, with agricultural and urban soils generally showing higher contamination levels than less intensively managed areas.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 35 citations
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

Distribution, Environmental Risk Assessment, and Key Drivers of Microplastics in Farmland Soils Across Agricultural Zones in China

Researchers mapped the distribution and environmental risk of microplastics across a study area while identifying the key drivers of spatial variation, including land use and proximity to pollution sources. The findings provide a framework for prioritizing cleanup and management efforts in microplastic-contaminated environments.

2025 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence status of microplastics in main agricultural areas of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China

Agricultural soils in Xinjiang, China, were surveyed for microplastic contamination, revealing widespread presence in major farming regions where plastic mulch films and irrigation systems are heavily used. The study provides one of the first regional-scale assessments of microplastic pollution in this important agricultural area.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 55 citations
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

Impact of land-use patterns on soil microplastics: Distribution characteristics and driving factors in southern China’s Pearl River Delta

A study across different land-use types in China's Pearl River Delta found that agricultural land had higher soil microplastic concentrations than urban or forested areas, with land-use history and plastic mulch film use as the dominant factors controlling MP distribution and polymer composition.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 3 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
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

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
Article Tier 2

First insight into microplastic groundwater pollution in Latin America: the case of a coastal aquifer in Northwest Mexico

Researchers conducted the first investigation of microplastic pollution in groundwater in Latin America, analyzing six capped boreholes in a coastal aquifer in northwest Mexico for microplastic abundance, concentration, and characteristics. The study detected microplastics in groundwater samples, establishing baseline contamination data for this understudied environmental compartment and raising concerns about drinking water quality in the region.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 3 citations
Article Tier 2

The microplastics distribution characteristics and their impact on soil physicochemical properties and bacterial communities in food legumes farmland in northern China

Researchers surveyed farmland soil across five provinces in northern China and found microplastic contamination ranging from 1,600 to over 36,000 particles per kilogram of soil. Most of the microplastics were small fibers and fragments, primarily from agricultural plastic film and organic fertilizer use. The study found that microplastic presence altered soil properties and shifted bacterial community composition, suggesting these particles may affect soil health in food-growing regions.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination and characteristics of agricultural groundwater in Haean Basin of Korea

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in agricultural groundwater in Korea's Haean Basin, an area without nearby landfills or obvious pollution sources. They found microplastics present in groundwater samples, suggesting that agricultural activities alone can introduce these particles into underground water supplies. The study raises concerns about drinking water quality in farming regions and highlights the need for more research on how microplastics move through soil into groundwater.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in agricultural soils on the coastal plain of Hangzhou Bay, east China: Multiple sources other than plastic mulching film

Researchers analyzed agricultural soils from the Hangzhou Bay coastal plain and found microplastic concentrations of 571 pieces/kg in mulched soils versus 263 pieces/kg in non-mulched soils, with irrigation water identified as an additional major source alongside mulch films. The findings point to multiple input pathways for microplastic accumulation in Chinese farmland soils.

2019 Journal of Hazardous Materials 682 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination, morphological and chemical characterization, and hazard risk analyses of microplastics in drinking water sourced from groundwater in a developing nation

Researchers analyzed groundwater from six coastal districts in a developing nation and found widespread microplastic contamination, with fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types. Since groundwater is the primary drinking water source in many developing countries, this contamination represents a direct pathway for microplastic ingestion by millions of people.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, distribution and affecting factors of microplastics in agricultural soils along the lower reaches of Yangtze River, China

Researchers conducted a large-scale field survey of microplastics in agricultural soils along the lower Yangtze River, finding widespread contamination that correlated with proximity to plastic-mulching farmland and irrigation with treated wastewater.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 220 citations
Article Tier 2

Vertical distribution and multi-source pathways of microplastics in agricultural soils: A study of typical irrigation areas in the upper Yellow River basin

Researchers found that farmland soil in the upper Yellow River region contained significantly more microplastics than nearby forest or grassland, with plastics detected in all soil layers down to one meter deep. Flood-style irrigation pushed microplastics much deeper into the ground than drip irrigation, doubling contamination levels. This is concerning because microplastics migrating deep into agricultural soil could eventually reach groundwater that people depend on for drinking water.

2025 Environmental Pollution 5 citations
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

Occurrence characteristics and potential risk of microplastics under different land conditions

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution across different land types in northern China, including farmland, industrial areas, and restored land. Farmland soil had the highest microplastic concentrations, about twice that of industrial park soil, and over half of sampling sites showed moderate pollution levels. The study also found that longer periods of land restoration were associated with lower microplastic abundance.

2024 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in agricultural soils on the coastal plain: Spatial characteristics, influencing factors and sources

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in agricultural soils along China's southeast coastal plain and found an average of 314 particles per kilogram of soil. They discovered that microplastic levels first increased and then decreased from inland to the coast, a pattern influenced by historical coastline expansion. The study used network analysis to identify textile-related activities and soil properties as the major factors driving microplastic accumulation in farmland.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 27 citations