Occurrence of Microplastics from Plastic Fragments in Cultivated Soil of Sichuan Province: The Key Controls (original) (raw)
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Agriculture
While microplastics (MPs) have been identified extensively in aquatic ecosystems, their presence remains largely unexplored in soil ecosystems. Considering the potential effect of MPs on soil biodiversity and function, the present study investigated and analyzed the abundance and characteristics of MPs in soil profile. Taking soil samples from Tainan city farms, as one of the hotspots of agricultural practices in Taiwan, concentrations, types, compositions, pathways, and sources of MPs in farmland soils were quantified. Results showed that MPs were found in all soil samples in different depths ranging from 12–117 items/m2 and MP abundance in farms adjacent to the suburban roads was about three times more than in enclosed farms separated from roads. Fragment and fibers were the main forms and low-density polyethylene was the dominant polymer of detected MPs. Historical land use, extensive application of plastic mulch, and utilization of fruit protection foams were identified as the m...
Analysis and Effects of Microplastics in the Agricultural Soils
Proceedings of the 7th World Congress on New Technologies, 2021
Microplastics (MPs) are pertinacious contaminants which are threatening the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Over the years, various studies have reported the presence of MPs in the marine environment through case studies and reviews, but its presence in the agricultural soils is not fully understood. To date, there exists no standardized methodology for sampling, extraction and characterization of MPs in the agricultural soils. This review aims at encapsulating the different techniques used for sampling and extraction of MPs, and includes the methods employed for identification and quantification of MPs in the soil environment. Flotation method, pressurized fluid extraction and elutriation are some of the different techniques used for MPs extraction that usually influence the characterization step. Visual identification through microscope and scanning electron microscope and chemical identification via Fourier-transform infrared (FITR) and Raman spectrometry, are the main techniques that are used for the identification of MPs. The fate and dispersion of MPs in the agricultural soil are discussed, as well as their interaction with the soil biota. The main findings of this review show that further research is needed on the sampling methods as well as analytical techniques so as to contribute to standardizing MPs characterization in the soil environment, potential toxicity effects along the food chain, and global policies for sustainable development.
2021
Although the distribution of microplastic (MPs) has been studied in different environmental compartments during the last decade, there is still a knowledge gap in their distribution and abundances in soil. This study aimed to investigate the abundance, distribution, and type of MPs in the soil of Aghili plain as a hot and dry area in southwest of Iran. In this study, composite soil samples (n=102) were collected from the residential and agricultural areas in Aghili plain, Iran. A combination of visual observations, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) – Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman micro -spectroscopy was conducted to quantify and characterize MPs in soil samples. The intakes of MPs in adults and children were estimated through two exposure EPA scenarios. The total MPs loading in the studies soil was 11.93 ± 0.9 items in Kg-1 of surface soil in Aghili plain. The MPs had various morphology (fiber, pellet, fragment, and spherule shapes), colors (white-transparen...
Urban dust and civil runoff could represent a critical diffuse source of MPs in urban areas. • Several studies indicated that Tyre and Road Wear Particulates could be an important source of MPs pollution. • The main drivers influencing MPs distribution in the soil are the application of plastic mulch films and sewage sludge. • Particles <10 μm have been found in fruits and vegetables commonly consumed by humans with worrying values. • Several authors observed the variation of nutritive values of some edible vegetables due to MP interactions.
Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae, 2022
In less than a century, plastics have gained enormous popularity and it is now difficult for us to imagine our lives without them. They are very widely used in industry, agriculture, medicine and many others, mainly due to their stability and low production costs-which contribute to a steady increase in demand worldwide. They biodegrade very slowly, and the limited and inappropriate recovery of this raw material from waste has led to a visible accumulation of residual polymers in the environment. As a result of physical, chemical and biological processes, e.g., ultraviolet (UV) radiation, weathering or mechanical abrasion, plastics degrade to fine particles-those less than 5 mm in size are called microplastics. They can be found in the natural environment in various morphological forms, e.g., as fibres, granules, scraps, spheres, particles or fragments, e.g., film, of primary or secondary origin. The presence of microplastics has been found all over the world, in all environments. Only recently has there been a broader focus on microplastics, which includes terrestrial systems where soils are an important part of the environment potentially exposed to contamination. Their main source in soils may be within agriculture (where composts, organic fertilizers, sewage sludge and mulching, as well as irrigation are used) plus transport, landfills and the deposition of atmospheric pollutants.
Microplastics in Agricultural Soils: A Case Study in Cultivation of Watermelons and Canning Tomatoes
Water
Thirty soil samples were collected from fields that have been used for cultivating watermelons and canning tomatoes for over 10 years. The microplastics (MPs) within these samples were separated with a density floatation method and the use of sieves and filters. The microplastics found were black and originated from the black agricultural mulch film (BMF) used in these cultivations. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy revealed that these microplastics are of the same material as the virgin BMF and as a virgin polyethylene film used as blank. SEM images showed that used BMF and MPs found in soil were oxidized by their exposure to sunlight and create fibrous edges that lead to the creation of smaller size MPs. The number of MPs found in fields with watermelon (301 ± 140 items kg−1) were more than four times higher than in fields with canning tomatoes (69 ± 38 items kg−1) due to the double planting each year and to the second planting last year being closer to the sampling episode. All the sample si...
Microplastics as pollutants in agricultural soils
Environmental Pollution, 2020
Microplastics (MPs) as emerging persistent pollutants have been a growing global concern. Although MPs are extensively studied in aquatic systems, their presence and fate in agricultural systems are not fully understood. In the agricultural soils, major causes of MPs pollution include application of biosolids and compost, wastewater irrigation, mulching film, polymer-based fertilizers and pesticides, and atmospheric deposition. The fate and dispersion of MPs in the soil environment are mainly associated with the soil characteristics, cultivation practices, and diversity of soil biota. Although there is emerging pollution of MPs in the soil environment, no standardized detection and quantification techniques are available. This study comprehensively reviews the sources, fate, and dispersion of MPs in the soil environment, discusses the interactions and effects of MPs on soil biota, and highlights the recent advancements in detection and quantification methods of MPs. The prospects for future research include biomagnification potency, cytotoxic effects on human/animals, nonlinear behavior in the soil environment , standardized analytical methods, best management practices, and global policies in the agricultural industry for the sake of sustainable development.
The Issue of Plastic and Microplastic Pollution in Soil
Materiale Plastice
Soil pollution with plastics represents a great threat to plants, animals, but especially to humans, as a very small quantity of the plastic which is discarded daily is recycled or incinerated in waste facilities, much of it reaching landfills where their decomposition lasts up to 1000 years and during this time the toxic substances penetrate the soil and the water. If, initially, the pollution with plastics has been identified and recognized in the aquatic environment, recent studies show that plastics residues exist in huge quantities in the soil. The present study focuses on the analysis of factors that pollute soil, so the various studies that have been carried out claim that soil pollution with plastic is much higher and increases in an aggressive manner, being estimated to be 4 to 23 times higher than water pollution with plastics, and the accumulation of microplastics in the soil has a negative impact on soil biota. Thus, once the plastic material accumulates in the soil, it ...
Microplastic Characterization in Soil Samples in Urban and Rural Areas of Eskişehir
European Journal of Science and Technology, 2021
Plastics, which are widely used in daily life, are preferred in many areas from the construction sector to the textile sector due to some of their features such as ease of processing and being economical. Nearly 9 million tons of plastic have been produced so far, most of which is emitted as pollution. These plastics, which turn into particles smaller than 5 mm called "microplastic" by exposure to some physical effects such as sunlight, wind and waves, increase pollution due to their smaller size and densities and spread to much wider areas. Microplastics, which can be formed by the disintegration of large-sized plastics, threaten the living and non-living environment with their non-degradable structures. The severity of microplastic pollution, which can be defined as invisible pollution, should be better understood and awareness should be raised about the impact of its negative consequences. The aim of this study is to reveal the microplastic pollution in soil environments of rural and urban areas in Eskişehir. In the study, soil samples taken from urban and rural areas were visually analyzed. As a result, it was observed that the microplastic density was higher in urban samples. In addition, by visual analysis of microplastics, it was determined that the most common type was fiber type, and black colored microplastics were seen most frequently.
Ecological risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural soils of Coimbatore region, India
Natural Resources for Human Health, 2024
Although plastics provide numerous conveniences for human life, concerns about ecosystems and human life are rising tremendously due to increased plastic production and consumption. The ubiquitous presence and undeniable distribution of microplastics (MPs) in agricultural usage created a major risk concern for soil ecology and human health. The ecological risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural sites in the Coimbatore region of South India has been evaluated using three ecological risk indices: Pollution Hazard Index (PHI), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI). Based on the concentration of hazardous MPs (Polyethylene, polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylamide, polyacrylamide, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride) in sampling sites, risk assessment indicated the major risk level in inorganic fertilizers applied site. Meanwhile, PLI indicated that all the sites were in category I with low pollution load in the region. However, the hazard scores of polymers increased the PERI values and exhibited their values in the extremely dangerous category. Since the models for evaluating MPs risk in agricultural sites are not yet developed, this calculation is cautiously calculated and further research could gradually add base reference data for understanding the distribution, ecological risk, and trophic transfer of MPs.