Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

[Relationships Between Microplastic and Surrounding Soil in an E-Waste Zone of China].

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in soils around an e-waste dismantling zone in China, finding that plastic particles had distinct properties compared to those in less contaminated nearby soils, and that microplastic abundance correlated with other soil pollution indicators. E-waste processing sites are emerging as significant but understudied sources of microplastic soil contamination.

2021 PubMed 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Simulated experimental investigation of microplastic weathering in marine environment

Researchers simulated microplastic weathering under marine conditions, finding that exposure to UV light, saltwater, and mechanical abrasion progressively degraded plastic surfaces, increased surface roughness, and enhanced the adsorption capacity of contaminants onto microplastic particles.

2022 Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A 4 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

Impact of soil structure and texture on occurrence of microplastics in agricultural soils of karst areas

Researchers found that soil texture is the dominant factor influencing microplastic abundance in karst agricultural soils in China, with powdered-light clay soils harboring the highest contamination at nearly 3,000 particles per kilogram.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Surface properties and changes in morphology of microplastics exposed in-situ to Chinese coastal wetlands

This study examined how microplastics change physically and chemically after being exposed in real coastal wetland environments, finding significant surface oxidation and biofouling after 90 days. Understanding how plastic particles age in natural settings is important because weathered microplastics may behave differently in organisms compared to pristine particles used in lab studies.

2020 Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version) 7 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

Evaluation of niche, diversity, and risks of microplastics in farmland soils of different rocky desertification areas

Researchers evaluated microplastic pollution in farmland soils across different levels of rocky desertification in Guizhou, China. The study found that microplastic diversity, distribution, and ecological risks varied significantly across desertification levels, suggesting that land degradation status influences how microplastics accumulate and behave in agricultural soils.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 19 citations
Article Tier 2

After the sun: a nanoscale comparison of the surface chemical composition of UV and soil weathered plastics

Researchers used nanoscale surface analysis to compare how UV light and soil burial weather the chemical composition of plastics differently, finding that each exposure type produces distinct surface changes. These differences affect how plastics interact with surrounding environments, including how they may adsorb or release contaminants as microplastics in nature.

2023 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution characteristics of soil microplastics and their impact on soil physicochemical properties in agricultural areas of the North China plain

Microplastics are accumulating across agricultural soils of the North China Plain, with this study finding moderate-to-low abundance across multiple land use types and detecting that plastic particles affect soil texture, bulk density, and water-holding capacity. Altered soil physical properties from microplastic contamination could impair crop growth and soil fertility over time, with implications for food security.

2024 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Weathering on Microplastic Dispersibility and Pollutant Uptake Capacity

This study examined how environmental weathering changes the surface properties of microplastics and their ability to absorb co-pollutants, finding that weathered MPs bind more contaminants than pristine particles due to surface oxidation and cracking. The results emphasize that the environmental fate and toxicity of microplastics change dynamically as they age in the environment.

2022 ACS Environmental Au 79 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

Surface weathering and changes in components of microplastics from estuarine beaches

Researchers examined surface weathering and compositional changes in microplastics recovered from estuarine sediments in Shandong Province, China, characterising morphological and chemical transformations in these particles as a function of environmental exposure.

2017 Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version) 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of Microplastic Pollution in Agricultural Soils in Xiangtan, China

Researchers characterized microplastic pollution in agricultural soils in Xiangtan, China, finding an average abundance of over 4,300 particles per kilogram of soil. The study found that rice paddies and vegetable fields contained different microplastic profiles, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common types, pointing to mulch film and irrigation water as likely sources.

2024 Sustainability 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Considering microplastic characteristics in ecological risk assessment: A case study for China

Scientists measured microplastic contamination in agricultural soils in Northeast China and found concentrations ranging from 300 to 12,800 particles per kilogram. Most particles came from textiles and packaging, with rayon and PET fibers being the most common types. Risk assessment models showed varying levels of ecological concern, and the study emphasizes that multiple characteristics of microplastics, not just their quantity, need to be considered when evaluating environmental risk.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 34 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

Micro- and nanoplastics retention in porous media exhibits different dependence on grain surface roughness and clay coating with particle size

Researchers found that grain surface roughness and clay coatings affect the retention of microplastics and nanoplastics in porous media differently depending on particle size, with nanoplastics behaving oppositely to microplastics in certain soil conditions — complicating predictions of plastic transport in groundwater systems.

2022 Water Research 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Experimental modeling of biodegradable microplastics

Researchers experimentally modeled the formation of biodegradable microplastics by subjecting polymers to environmental degradation factors, characterizing the resulting particles' surface properties and their capacity to adsorb toxic chemicals and microorganisms relevant to ecological risk assessment.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Characterizing Microplastic Pollution and Microbial Community Status in Rice Paddy Soils Across Varied Environmental Settings in Songjiang, Shanghai: An Analysis of Morpho-Chemical Characteristics

Researchers characterized microplastic pollution and associated microbial communities in rice paddy soils, finding widespread microplastic contamination that correlated with shifts in soil bacterial diversity. Plastic-associated microbial communities differed from bulk soil communities, suggesting microplastics create distinct microbial niches in agricultural environments.

2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT) 1 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

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

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

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

Existence of microplastics in soil and groundwater in Jiaodong Peninsula

Researchers found microplastics in both soil and groundwater samples from a Chinese coastal region, with fibers dominant in groundwater and fragments dominant in soils. The discovery of microplastics in groundwater raises concerns about plastic contamination of drinking water aquifers in agricultural areas.

2021 E3S Web of Conferences 16 citations