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Dogra K, Kumar M, Deoli Bahukhandi K, Zang J. Traversing the prevalence of microplastics in soil-agro ecosystems: Origin, occurrence, and pollutants synergies. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2024; 266:104398. [PMID: 39032427 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2024.104398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The ubiquity of plastics in modern life has made them a significant environmental concern and a marker of the Anthropocene era. The degradation of plastics results in the formation of microplastics (MPs), which measure 5 mm or less. The coexistence of MPs with other pollutants found in sludge, water treatment plant effluents, surface water, and groundwater, shapes the environmental landscape together. Despite extensive investigation, the long-term implications of MPs in soils remain uncertain, underscoring the importance of delving into their transportation and interactions with soil biota and other contaminants. The present article provides a comprehensive overview of MPs contamination in soil, encompassing its sources, prevalence, features, and interactions with soil flora and fauna, heavy metals, and organic compounds. The sources of MPs in soil agroecosystems are mulching, composting, littering, sewage sludge, irrigation water, and fertilizer application. The concentration of MPs reported in plastic mulch, littering, and sewage sludge is 503 ± 2760 items per kg-1, 4483 ± 2315 MPs/kg, and 11,100 ± 570 per/kg. The transport of MPs in soil agroecosystems is due to their horizontal and vertical migration including biotic and abiotic mobility. The article also highlighted the analytical process, which includes sampling planning, collection, purification, extraction, and identification techniques of MPs in soil agroecosystems. The mechanism in the interaction of MPs and organic pollutants includes surface adsorption or adhesion cation bridging, hydrogen bonding, charge transfer, ligand exchange, van der Waals interactions, and ion exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanika Dogra
- Sustainability Cluster, School of Advanced Engineering, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Manish Kumar
- Sustainability Cluster, School of Advanced Engineering, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India; Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterey, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo León, Mexico.
| | - Kanchan Deoli Bahukhandi
- Sustainability Cluster, School of Advanced Engineering, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Jian Zang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Green Buildings and Built Environments, School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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Choudhury TR, Riad S, Uddin FJ, Maksud MA, Alam MA, Chowdhury AMS, Mubin AN, Islam ARMT, Malafaia G. Microplastics in multi-environmental compartments: Research advances, media, and global management scenarios. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2024; 265:104379. [PMID: 38851130 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2024.104379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
During the past decades, microplastics (MPs) have become an emerging concern due to their persistence and potential environmental threat. MP pollution has become so drastic that it has been found in the human food chain, breast milk, polar regions, and even the Himalayan basin, lake, etc. Inflammation, pulmonary hypertension, vascular occlusions, increased coagulability and blood cell cytotoxicity, disruption of immune function, neurotoxicity, and neurodegenerative diseases can all be brought on by severe microplastic exposure. Although many MPs studies have been performed on single environmental compartments, MPs in multi-environmental compartments have yet to be explored fully. This review aims to summarize the muti-environmental media, detection tools, and global management scenarios of MPs. The study revealed that MPs could significantly alter C flow through the soil-plant system, the structure and metabolic status of the microbial community, soil pH value, biomass of plant shoots and roots, chlorophyll, leaf C and N contents, and root N contents. This review reveals that MPs may negatively affect many C-dependent soil functions. Different methods have been developed to detect the MPs from these various environmental sources, including microscopic observation, density separation, Raman, and FT-IR analysis. Several articles have focused on MPs in individual environmental sources with a developed evaluation technique. This review revealed the extensive impacts of MPs on soil-plant systems, microbial communities, and soil functions, especially on water, suggesting possible disturbances to vital ecological processes. Furthermore, the broad range of detection methods explored emphasizes the significance of reliable analytical techniques in precisely evaluating levels of MP contamination in various environmental media. This paper critically discusses MPs' sources, occurrences, and global management scenarios in all possible environmental media and ecological health impacts. Future research opportunities and required sustainable strategies have also been suggested from Bangladesh and international perspectives based on challenges faced due to MP's pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasrina Rabia Choudhury
- Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Division, Atomic Energy Center Dhaka, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh.
| | - Syed Riad
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Foyez Jalal Uddin
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M A Maksud
- Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Division, Atomic Energy Center Dhaka, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - M Abbas Alam
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Bangladesh Accreditation Board, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | | | - Al-Nure Mubin
- Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur 5400, Bangladesh
| | - Abu Reza Md Towfiqul Islam
- Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur 5400, Bangladesh; Department of Development Studies, Daffodil International University, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh.
| | - Guilherme Malafaia
- Post-Graduation Program in Conservation of Cerrado Natural Resources, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Ecology, Conservation, and Biodiversity, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
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Choi B, Gil D, Lee JJ, Kim C. Selective visual staining of polyurethane microplastics by novel colorimetric and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye: Application to environmental water and natural soil samples. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 471:134332. [PMID: 38643578 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics can cause environmental pollution and ecosystem destruction as well as human health problems. Among the types of microplastics, polyurethane (PU) is particularly resistant to heat and difficult to decompose, causing disposal problems, and is evaluated as one of the most hazardous polymers. We present a novel colorimetric and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence dye, (E)-N-(2-((4-(diphenylamino)benzylidene)amino)phenyl)- 7-nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazol-4-amine (DPNA), designed for selective visual PU microplastic staining. The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) properties of DPNA are demonstrated through density functional theory (DFT) calculations along with solvatochromic shift. DPNA exhibits red color and red fluorescence emission, showing promising potential as a staining dye. To achieve selective PU microplastic staining, we establish an optimized experimental procedure with the staining dye DPNA by evaluating the staining efficiency under different staining solvent compositions and staining times. DPNA can distinguish PU by both red fluorescence signal and red coloration among different types of microplastics. In addition, DPNA well stain fresh PUs with diverse sizes and at various pH range of 5-9, and the aged PUs can also be dyed as effectively as the fresh PU. Most importantly, DPNA selectively stains PU among 11 types of microplastics and 5 types of natural particles in environmental water and soil with and without any pre-treatments. The adsorption mechanism of DPNA on PU microplastic is demonstrated through field emission scanning electron microscopes (FE-SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and non-covalent interaction (NCI)-reduced density gradient (RDG) analyses, and proposed that intermolecular hydrogen bonding has a significant effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boeun Choi
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SNUT), Seoul 01811, South Korea
| | - Dongkyun Gil
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SNUT), Seoul 01811, South Korea
| | - Jae Jun Lee
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SNUT), Seoul 01811, South Korea
| | - Cheal Kim
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SNUT), Seoul 01811, South Korea.
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Chen X, Zhang H, Wong CUI. Spatial distribution characteristics and pollution evaluation of soil heavy metals in Wulongdong National Forest Park. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8880. [PMID: 38632322 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58259-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
To scrutinize the spatial distribution attributes of soil heavy metal content and discern its pollution status within the expanse of Wulongdong National Forest Park, a meticulous investigation is imperative. Three altitude gradients of 900, 1000, and 1069 m were selected on the shady and sunny slopes of Wulongdong National Forest Park, and a total of 300 soil sample points were collected. Soil samples were collected in layers, and the contents of seven soil heavy metal elements, Cr, Cd, Hg, Ni, Se, As, and Pb, were measured. With regard to the national soil element background values, the single factor index method, Nemerow index method, and pollution load index were employed to undertake a thorough assessment of soil heavy metal pollution. (1) The contents of heavy metal elements Cr, Se, As, and Pb in the 0-20 cm soil layer of Wulongdong National Forest Park are lower than the national soil element background value and the Henan soil element background value; the Cd and Hg contents exceed the national soil element background value. The value and Henan soil element background value are 2.2 times and 2.92 times the national soil element background value, and 2.75 times and 9.5 times the Henan soil element background value respectively; Ni content is lower than the Henan soil element background value, but higher than the national soil element background value. The background value is 1.03 times its content. The coefficients of variation of the contents of seven heavy metal elements are all greater than 50%, among which Hg shows extreme variation, and the remaining six are highly variable. (2) In the same soil layer, the Cr and As contents are lower on sunny slopes than on shady slopes, and the contents of Pb, Ni, and Hg are generally higher on sunny slopes than on shady slopes. On sunny slopes, the contents of As, Cd, and Hg decrease with increasing altitude, and the Se content increases with increasing altitude; while on shady slopes, the contents of Cr, Se, and As decrease with increasing altitude, and Pb and Hg content increase with the increase of altitude; the content of heavy metal element As increases with the deepening of the soil layer on shady slopes, and the Hg content decreases with the deepening of the soil layer on sunny slopes. The contents of other heavy metal elements have no obvious regularity among different slope directions, altitudes and soil layers. (3) The single factor index evaluation results show that in the 0 ~ 20c soil layer and on the sunny slope, Hg is heavily polluted, Cd is moderately polluted, Ni is lightly polluted, and Cr, Se, As, and Pb are all non-polluted; On the shady slope, Cd and Hg are moderately polluted, and the other five heavy metal elements are in a non-polluting state. (4) The Nemerow index method evaluation results show that in the 0 ~ 20 cm soil layer, the soil on sunny slopes is significantly more polluted by heavy metals than on shady slopes, and the main pollutants are Ni, Cd and Hg. (5) In the 0 ~ 20 cm soil layer of Wulongdong National Forest Park, the three heavy metal elements Ni, Cd and Hg have reached pollution levels, of which Ni is slightly polluted, Cd and Hg are moderately or above polluted; the sunny slope soil is slightly polluted. Heavy metal pollution, no heavy metal pollution on shady slopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Chen
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, China
- Department of Management, Henan Institute of Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Hongfeng Zhang
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, China
| | - Cora Un In Wong
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, China.
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Lee JJ, Kang J, Kim C. A low-cost TICT-based staining agent for identification of microplastics: Theoretical studies and simple, cost-effective smartphone-based fluorescence microscope application. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133168. [PMID: 38104521 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
A novel staining agent, (5-(4-(diethylamino)benzylidene)- 1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4,6(1 H,3 H,5 H)-trione) (DDB) was developed for the effective detection of environmentally harmful microplastics. DDB has competitive cost advantages, namely its facile synthesis and high yield, over Nile Red (NR), which is commonly used for microplastic staining. The unique photophysical properties of DDB, including emissive twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) and aggregation-induced emission (AIE), were corroborated via spectroscopic investigations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Notably, DDB demonstrated superior selectivity for staining microplastics (polyethylene (PE), polyurethane (PU), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) over non-plastic materials in water. Furthermore, modulation of the solvent environment during the staining process yielded distinct fluorescence in both the green and red channels for specific types of plastic with the interplay between locally excited (LE) and TICT states. Treatment with 5% ethanol results in the selective staining of PE and PET with the emission of red fluorescence, whereas treatment with 30% ethanol facilitates the selective staining of PU, PVC, and PET with the emission of green fluorescence. Additionally, DDB could selectively stain microplastics in spiked soil and river water samples. Furthermore, a smartphone-based fluorescence microscope was developed at a cost below $100, validating the effective detection of microplastics stained with the newly synthesized DDB. The outcomes of this research demonstrate the potential of DDB as an economical and efficient agent for selective microplastic detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Jun Lee
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, South Korea
| | - Jiyun Kang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, South Korea
| | - Cheal Kim
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, South Korea.
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Shanmugam SD, Praveena SM, Wahid SA, Liew JYC. Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics pollution in tropical agricultural soils in Klang Valley, Malaysia. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:144. [PMID: 38214797 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12330-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Presently, microplastic pollution has emerged as a growing environmental risk around the world. Nevertheless, knowledge of the occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in tropical agricultural soil is limited. This study investigated the pollution of surface soil microplastics in two agricultural farms located at Klang Valley, Malaysia. An extraction method based on density separation by using saturated extraction solution (sodium sulfate, ρ = 2 g cm-3 and sucrose, ρ = 1.59 g cm-3 with a ratio 1:1, v/v) was carried out. The study revealed the mean particle size of soil microplastics with 3260.76 ± 880.38 μm in farm A and 2822.31 ± 408.48 μm in farm B. The dominant types of soil microplastics were fragments and films with major colors of white (59%) and transparent (28%) in farm A, while black (52%) and white (37.6%) in farm B. Representatives of soil microplastics detected polymers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polycarbonate (PC), and polystyrene (PS). The sources of plastic products were black and white plastic pipes, black plastic films for vegetation, fertilizer bottles, plastic water containers and polystyrene storage boxes, and the breakdown processes, contributed to the microplastic pollution in these farms. The outcomes of this study will establish a better understanding of microplastic pollution in tropical agricultural soil in the Southeast Asian region. The findings would be beneficial as supportive reference for the endeavor to reduce microplastic pollution in agricultural soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyamala Devi Shanmugam
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Sarva Mangala Praveena
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| | - Samsuri Abdul Wahid
- Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Josephine Ying Chyi Liew
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
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Li J, Zhu B, Huang B, Ma J, Lu C, Chi G, Guo W, Chen X. Vertical distribution and characteristics of soil microplastics under different land use patterns: A case study of Shouguang City, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 903:166154. [PMID: 37572903 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Soil microplastic pollution is ubiquitous, but the vertical distribution characteristics of microplastics in different land use types are unclear. In this study, the microplastic abundance, particle size, shape, color, and polymer type in 0-20 cm, 20-40 cm, and 40-60 cm soil layers of seven land use types (woodland, grassland, maize, wheat, cotton, polytunnel, and greenhouse) were systematically investigated in Shouguang City, a typical agricultural city in China. The results showed that the average microplastic abundance from top to deep for the three soil layers of Shouguang City were 1948.1 ± 992.5, 1349.4 ± 654, and 670.1 ± 341.6 items kg-1. In the top soil layer (0-20 cm), the abundance of microplastics in facility soils was significantly higher than in other land use types. In agricultural soils, microplastics were predominantly small size (<0.5 mm), films and fragments, PE and PP. The average microplastic abundance in deep soils (40-60 cm) of the seven land use types was 349.1 ± 62.8 (woodland), 284.9 ± 113.9 (grassland), 657.1 ± 127.1 (maize), 537.8 ± 137.4 (wheat), 851.4 ± 204.2 (cotton), 878.5 ± 295.7 (polytunnel), 1132.2 ± 304.5 (greenhouse) items kg-1, respectively, accounting for 11 % to 19 % in all three soil layers. The percentage of small size and pellet microplastics increased in deep soils (40-60 cm). Correlation analysis showed that soil environmental factors (pH, EC, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and organic carbon) influenced to different extents the distribution, fragmentation, and transport of microplastics. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of contamination and vertical distribution of soil microplastics in agricultural and non-agricultural soils, as well as provide important data for the development of preventive and management policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jizhi Li
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environment Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Bin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environment Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Bin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environment Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Jian Ma
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environment Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Caiyan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environment Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Guangyu Chi
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environment Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Wei Guo
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environment Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environment Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.
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Zhu B, Chen Y, Jiang L, Liu C, Zhu H, Qiu D, Wang S. Quantification and characterization of microplastics in farmland soils of Jiangsu Province, East China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:120653-120662. [PMID: 37943431 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30654-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The soil ecosystem plays a significant role in the dynamics of microplastics. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of microplastics in six farmland plots from the cities of Nanjing, Suzhou, and Xuzhou were conducted by using laser infrared imaging system (LDIR). The results showed that the abundance of microplastics in farmland soils in Jiangsu Province ranged from 667-9333 items/kg, and the difference between the abundance of microplastics in soils from open-field cultivation and greenhouse farming was not significant. The vertical distribution characteristics showed that the abundance of microplastic decreased significantly with the increase of soil depth. However, there was no significant difference in particle size between top soil (0-5 cm) and deep soil (10-20 cm). Fragments were the most common microplastic form in soil samples (94.6%), with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) being the main polymer type, followed by polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Compared with previous studies conducted in China, the abundance of microplastics in farmland soils in Jiangsu Province was at moderate level but was notably higher than other places within the Yangtze River Delta region. The conclusions drawn from this paper provided important reference data for future assessment of microplastic pollution in agricultural fields. Furthermore, they establish a fundamental groundwork for understanding the migration patterns of MPs in soil environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingqing Zhu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Nanjing, 210036, China.
| | - Ying Chen
- College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Linhui Jiang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Nanjing, 210036, China
| | - Cuicui Liu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Nanjing, 210036, China
| | - Haimei Zhu
- Pizhou Station of Farmland Quality Protection, Xuzhou, 221300, China
| | - Dan Qiu
- Jiangsu Provincial Station of Farmland Quality and Agricultural Environmental Protection, Nanjing, 210036, China
| | - Shui Wang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Nanjing, 210036, China
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Zhuang H, Qin M, Liu B, Li R, Li Z. Combination of transcriptomics, metabolomics and physiological traits reveals the effects of polystyrene microplastics on photosynthesis, carbon and nitrogen metabolism in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 205:108201. [PMID: 37995577 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Although microplastic pollution has been widely studied, the mechanism by which they influence plant photosynthesis and carbon and nitrogen metabolism remains unclear. We aimed to explore the effects of polystyrene microplastics (PS) on photosynthesis and carbon and nitrogen metabolism in cucumber using 5 μm and 0.1 μm PS particles. The PS treatments significantly reduced the stability of cucumber mesophyll cells and photosynthetic parameters and increased the soluble sugar content in cucumber leaves. The 5 μm PS affected the photosynthetic pathway by changing the expression of enzyme genes required for the synthesis of NADPH and ATP, which decreased the photosynthetic capacity in cucumber leaves. However, 0.1 μm PS altered the genes expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), which affected the intercellular CO2 concentration and attenuated the negative effects on photosynthetic efficiency. Additionally, PS reduced the expression levels of nitrate/nitrite transporter (NRT) and nitrate reductase (NR), reducing the nitrogen use efficiency in cucumber leaves and mesophyll cells damage through increased accumulation of reduced glutathione (GSH), γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-GC), and citrulline. This study provides a new scientific basis for exploring the effects of microplastics on plant photosynthesis and carbon and nitrogen metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Zhuang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Mengru Qin
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Bo Liu
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Ruijing Li
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Zhenxia Li
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China; Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Horticultural Plant Resource Utilization and Germplasm Enhancement, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China.
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10
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Yang X, Zhang Z, Zhang J. Study of soil microplastic pollution and influencing factors based on environmental fragility theory. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 899:165435. [PMID: 37442481 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Soil microplastics (MPs) pollution is a global concern, but the distribution of MPs and the factors affecting the distribution of MPs in different ecologically fragile karst areas remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the spatial distribution, characteristics, and composition of MPs in different ecologically fragile karst areas of Guizhou Province and explored the relationship between ecosystem fragility and MPs. Structural equation models combined with robust random forest (RF) models were used to clarify the effects of karst soil properties on MPs and quantify their relative contributions. The abundance of soil MPs in ecologically fragile karst areas was 2949 item kg-1, and the risk of MPs contamination was highest in medium-fragile areas. The robust RF models precisely predicted the abundance of soil MPs in different fragile areas, and the mean root mean square error and R2 were 0.21 and 0.93, respectively. The contribution of karst soil properties to the abundance of MPs was estimated. Some soil chemical properties had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on MPs pollution in ecologically fragile karst areas. The results of our study suggest that the fragile ecological environment may exacerbate MPs pollution. Our study also contributes to establish a scientific theoretical foundation for the utilization of plastics and the prevention and control of microplastics pollution in karst ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuyuan Yang
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Zhenming Zhang
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, China; Key Laboratory of Kast Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; Guizhou Karst Environmental Ecosystems Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550025, China.
| | - Jiachun Zhang
- Guizhou Botanical Garden, Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou, China.
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Gollan M, Black G, Munoz-Munoz J. A computational approach to optimising laccase-mediated polyethylene oxidation through carbohydrate-binding module fusion. BMC Biotechnol 2023; 23:18. [PMID: 37415113 PMCID: PMC10324223 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-023-00787-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a major global concern to the health and wellbeing of all terrestrial and marine life. However, no sustainable method for waste management is currently viable. This study addresses the optimisation of microbial enzymatic polyethylene oxidation through rational engineering of laccases with carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) domains. An explorative bioinformatic approach was taken for high-throughput screening of candidate laccases and CBM domains, representing an exemplar workflow for future engineering research. Molecular docking simulated polyethylene binding whilst a deep-learning algorithm predicted catalytic activity. Protein properties were examined to interpret the mechanisms behind laccase-polyethylene binding. The incorporation of flexible GGGGS(x3) hinges were found to improve putative polyethylene binding of laccases. Whilst CBM1 family domains were predicted to bind polyethylene, they were suggested to detriment laccase-polyethylene associations. In contrast, CBM2 domains reported improved polyethylene binding and may thus optimise laccase oxidation. Interactions between CBM domains, linkers, and polyethylene hydrocarbons were heavily reliant on hydrophobicity. Preliminary polyethylene oxidation is considered a necessity for consequent microbial uptake and assimilation. However, slow oxidation and depolymerisation rates inhibit the large-scale industrial implementation of bioremediation within waste management systems. The optimised polyethylene oxidation of CBM2-engineered laccases represents a significant advancement towards a sustainable method of complete plastic breakdown. Results of this study offer a rapid, accessible workflow for further research into exoenzyme optimisation whilst elucidating mechanisms behind the laccase-polyethylene interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Gollan
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom.
| | - Gary Black
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom
| | - Jose Munoz-Munoz
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom
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12
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Yu F, Fu M, Tang C, Mo C, Li S, Luo S, Qin P, Zhao Y, Li Y. Potential impact of polyethylene microplastics on the growth of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica F.): Endophyte and rhizosphere effects. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 330:138737. [PMID: 37084901 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic contamination has received much attention, especially in agroecosystems. However, since edible crops with different genetic backgrounds may present different responses to microplastics, more research should be conducted and focused on more edible crops. In the current study, pot experiments were conducted to investigate the potential impact of polyethylene microplastic (PE) (particle sizes: 0.5 μm and 1.0 μm, addition levels: 0 (control), 0.5% and 1.0% (w/w)) addition on the physiological and biochemical variations of I. aquatica F.. The results indicated that PE addition caused an increase in the soil pH and NH4+-N and soil organic matter contents, which increased by 10.1%, 29.9% and 50.1% when PE addition at A10P0.5 level (10 g (PE) kg-1 soil, particle size: 0.5 μm). While, PE exposure resulted in a decrease in soil available phosphorus and total phosphorus contents, which decreased by 53.9% and 10.5% when PE addition at A10P0.5 level. In addition, PE addition altered the soil enzyme activities. Two-way ANOVA indicated that particle size had a greater impact on the variations in soil properties and enzyme activities than the addition level. PE addition had a strong impact on the rhizosphere microbial and root endophyte community diversity and structure of I. aquatica F.. Two-way ANOVA results indicated that the particle size and addition level significantly altered the α-diversity indices of both rhizosphere microbial and root endophyte (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 or P < 0.001). Moreover, PE was adsorbed by I. aquatica F., which was clearly observed in the transverse roots and significantly increased the H2O2, ·O2-, malondialdehyde and ascorbic acid contents in both the roots and aerial parts of I. aquatica F., leading to a decrease in I. aquatica F. biomass. Overall, the current study enriches the understanding of the effect of microplastics on edible crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangming Yu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, China; College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, 541004, Guilin, China
| | - Mingyue Fu
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, 541004, Guilin, China
| | - Chijian Tang
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, 541004, Guilin, China
| | - Cuiju Mo
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, 541004, Guilin, China
| | - Songying Li
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, 541004, Guilin, China
| | - Shiyu Luo
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, 541004, Guilin, China
| | - Peiqing Qin
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, 541004, Guilin, China
| | - Yinjun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, China
| | - Yi Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, China; College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, 541004, Guilin, China.
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13
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Uzamurera AG, Wang PY, Zhao ZY, Tao XP, Zhou R, Wang WY, Xiong XB, Wang S, Wesly K, Tao HY, Xiong YC. Thickness-dependent release of microplastics and phthalic acid esters from polythene and biodegradable residual films in agricultural soils and its related productivity effects. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 448:130897. [PMID: 36736218 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
It is crucial to elucidate the release rate of microplastics (MPs) and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in agricultural soil and their effects on crop productivity regarding film types and thicknesses. To address this issue, two-year landfill test was performed using 0.016 mm-thick polyethylene (PEt1) & biodegradable (BIOt1), and 0.01 mm-thin polyethylene (PEt2) & biodegradable (BIOt2) residual films as materials with no landfill as CK. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared analyses revealed that two-year landfill caused considerable changes in physical forms and spectral peaks in BIO film, which was more pronounced in thin BIO (36.90 % weight loss). Yet, less changes were presented in the above analyzes in polyethylene (PE) films, and thick films damaged relatively less. MPs number was 86,829.11 n/kg in BIOt1 and 134,912.27 n/kg in BIOt2, equivalent to 2.55 and 3.72 times higher than in PEt1 and PEt2, respectively. This was closely associated with PAEs release, as soil PAEs concentration was substantially lower in PEt1 (17.60 g/kg) and PEt2 (21.43 g/kg) than in BIOt1 and BIOt2 (37.12 g/kg and 49.20 g/kg), respectively. Furthermore, maize productivity parameters were negatively correlated with the amount of MPs and PAEs. BIOt2 and PEt1 had the lowest and highest grain yield, respectively. BIO exhibited greater environmental risk and adverse effects on soil and crop productivity than PE film due to physical degradation and release of PAEs. Thickness-wise comparison exhibited that thin film residues had more adverse effect relative to thick film ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Grace Uzamurera
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Peng-Yang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ze-Ying Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xiu-Ping Tao
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610213, China
| | - Rui Zhou
- School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Wen-Ying Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810001, China
| | - Xiao-Bin Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Song Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Kiprotich Wesly
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hong-Yan Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - You-Cai Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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14
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Tang KHD. Microplastics in agricultural soils in China: Sources, impacts and solutions. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 322:121235. [PMID: 36754198 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The detection of microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soils has raised alarms on their potential impacts on agricultural production, particularly in China where agriculture has great importance for domestic consumption and export. This review aims to present the abundance, sources and impacts of MPs in the agricultural soils of China. It has the novelty of synthesizing sustainable agronomic practices to reduce MPs pollution of agricultural soils based on the sources identified. According to the extant study, the abundance of MPs in the agricultural soils in China ranged from 4.94 items/kg in the lower reaches of Yangtze River to 40,800 items/kg in Yunnan Province. The MPs were predominantly ≤1 mm and were mainly composed of fragments, films and fibers. Polyethylene and polypropylene MPs were most reported. Plastic mulching films were the most significant source of MPs in agricultural soils, followed by abandoned greenhouses and the use of organic fertilizers containing fugitive MPs or whose sources were often MPs-polluted. MPs were found to alter soil physicochemical properties for instance, water flow, water-stable aggregates, soil aggregation, soil pH, bulk density and nutrient contents. MPs also affect soil biota through changing the richness and diversity of soil microbial community while retarding growth and disrupting physiological functions of soil macrofauna. The effects of MPs on crops vary and range from alteration of biomass, metabolism and nutrient demands to impacted photosynthesis. Sustainable solutions include the use of grass clippings - straw mix as organic mulches, the use of compost as soil amendment in conjunction with grass-straw mix and incorporation of weed-suppressing biomass into compost, the use of jute and biodegradable plastics for greenhouses, proper decommissioning of abandoned greenhouses as well as setting standards for allowable MPs contents in organic fertilizers and irrigation water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuok Ho Daniel Tang
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
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15
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Surendran U, Jayakumar M, Raja P, Gopinath G, Chellam PV. Microplastics in terrestrial ecosystem: Sources and migration in soil environment. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 318:137946. [PMID: 36708782 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Plastics, especially microplastics in soils, are considered a severe environmental issue worldwide. However, globally, the main research focus is on microplastic pollution in the marine environment, the microplastic pollution on soils and sediments remains on the sideline so far. But the fact is that microplastics are omnipresent in terrestrial systems in the form of microbeads in industrial systems and in sewage sludge. Their presence in agricultural soils and sediments is enormously increased due to plastic mulching, plastic greenhouses and compost and extensive use of controlled release fertilizers. Therefore, this review outlines the global scenario regarding plastics and microplastics production, consumption, and possible pathways of penetration into the soil environment. Various mechanisms to restrict and manage the pathways of plastics and microplastics into the soil environment are also discussed. This review also focuses on the challenges and limitations on the use of plastic alternates such as bioplastics and oxo plastics. Also, the knowledge gaps on the source of microplastics in the environment and their deleterious effects on properties of soil, soil health and focused light on their soil trophic transfer in food chains via plants. This review provides a detailed insight on the management and possible control measures to alleviate the potential risk caused by microplastics pollution in the soil environment and the overall ecosystem's health. In spite of the occurrence and fate of microplastics on terrestrial environment, knowledge gaps and challenges for tackling this contamination are also explored which facilitates the policy makers to develop regulatory measures towards the containment of microplastics in living ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Surendran
- Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
| | - M Jayakumar
- Central Coffee Research Institute , Coffee Research Station, Chikmagaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - P Raja
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Girish Gopinath
- Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, Kerala, India
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16
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Khan MA, Huang Q, Khan S, Wang Q, Huang J, Fahad S, Sajjad M, Liu Y, Mašek O, Li X, Wang J, Song X. Abundance, spatial distribution, and characteristics of microplastics in agricultural soils and their relationship with contributing factors. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 328:117006. [PMID: 36521215 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Agro-ecosystem contamination with microplastics (MPs) is of great concern. However, limited research has been conducted on the agricultural soil of tropical regions. This paper investigated MPs in the agro-ecosystem of Hainan Island, China, as well as their relationships with plastic mulching, farming practices, and social and environmental factors. The concentration of MPs in the study area ranged from 2800 to 82500 particles/kg with a mean concentration of 15461.52 particles/kg. MPs with sizes between 20 and 200 μm had the highest abundance of 57.57%, fragment (58.16%) was the most predominant shape, while black (77.76%) was the most abundant MP colour. Polyethylene (PE) (71.04%) and polypropylene (PP) (19.83%) were the main types of polymers. The mean abundance of MPs was significantly positively correlated (p < 0.01) with all sizes, temperature, and shapes except fibre, while weakly positively correlated with the population (p = 0.21), GDP (p = 0.33), and annual precipitation (p = 0.66). In conclusion, plastic mulching contributed to significant contamination of soil MPs in the study area, while environmental and social factors promoted soil MPs fragmentation. The current study results indicate serious contamination with MPs, which poses a concern regarding ecological and environmental safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Amjad Khan
- College of Ecology and Environment, Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environmental Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory for Environmental Toxicology of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Qing Huang
- College of Ecology and Environment, Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environmental Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory for Environmental Toxicology of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.
| | - Sardar Khan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Qingqing Wang
- College of Ecology and Environment, Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environmental Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory for Environmental Toxicology of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Jingjing Huang
- College of Ecology and Environment, Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environmental Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory for Environmental Toxicology of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Shah Fahad
- Department of Agronomy, The University of Haripur, Haripur, 22620, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Sajjad
- College of Ecology and Environment, Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environmental Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory for Environmental Toxicology of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Yin Liu
- College of Ecology and Environment, Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environmental Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory for Environmental Toxicology of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Ondřej Mašek
- UK Biochar Research Centre, School of GeoSciences, Crew Building, The King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaohui Li
- Hainan Inspection and Detection Center for Modern Agriculture, Haikou, 570100, China
| | - Junfeng Wang
- College of Ecology and Environment, Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environmental Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory for Environmental Toxicology of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Xiaomao Song
- Pujin Environmental Engineering (Hainan) Co., Ltd. Haikou, 570125, China
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17
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Li W, Wang S, Wufuer R, Duo J, Pan X. Distinct soil microplastic distributions under various farmland-use types around Urumqi, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159573. [PMID: 36272480 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Very little is known about the occurrence of microplastics in the soils of various land uses, especially their distributional characteristics in the soils of arid areas. In this study, 24 sampling sites across three soil layers were investigated for three different farmland-use types (greenhouses, crop fields and vegetable fields) in the main agricultural and pastoral areas around Urumqi, China. The results demonstrated that the dominant sizes of soil microplastics were 0.2-0.5 and 0.5-1.0 mm, the main shape was film (85.93 %), the main color was white, and the main polymer was polyethylene (93.1 %), indicating that most microplastics derive from the damage to residual mulches. The microplastics abundance was highest in the greenhouse plots (7763 ± 2773 items/kg), followed by the vegetable plots (4128 ± 2235 items/kg) and then the crop fields (3178 ± 3172 items/kg). No significant differences were observed among the abundances of microplastics in the 0-10 cm (1822 ± 1345 items/kg), 10-20 cm (1566 ± 1139 items/kg) and 20-30 cm (1309 ± 1028 items/kg) layers, suggesting that microplastics can migrate to the deeper soil layer and are strongly influenced by tillage disturbance. The abundance of microplastics in the north of Urumqi was found to be higher than in the south, which is closely related to the division of agricultural functional zones and the intensity of agricultural management practices. It was found that different cropping characteristics and modes of agricultural use affect the abundance and migration of microplastics in various farmland-use types, and thus their distribution. This study provides important data for follow-up research on microplastics in arid terrestrial ecosystems, and corresponding policy-making on the management of these materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Bioremediation, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuzhi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Bioremediation, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Rehemanjiang Wufuer
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Bioremediation, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jia Duo
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Bioremediation, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiangliang Pan
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Bioremediation, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, Urumqi 830011, China; Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
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18
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Bi D, Wang B, Li Z, Zhang Y, Ke X, Huang C, Liu W, Luo Y, Christie P, Wu L. Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in coastal plain soils under three land-use types. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 855:159023. [PMID: 36167126 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution is an issue of major environmental concern worldwide. Land-use type may affect the abundance, polymer types, and distribution characteristics of soil microplastics but their distribution remains unknown on the coastal plain of east China. Here, the abundance of microplastics in farmland (FL), plantation (P), and orchard/secondary forest (OSF) soils was determined on the east China coastal plain, and characteristics of the microplastics (shape, size, colour, and polymer composition) were analysed in soil samples collected from 33 sites. The average abundances of microplastics in FL, P, and OSF soils on the coastal plain of the east China coast were 185, 109, and 150 items kg-1, respectively. Small particles, fibres and transparent particles were the main characteristics of the microplastics observed. The polymer types were mainly PP and PET. The abundance of microplastics in farmland was positively correlated with population density in the study area. Therefore, agricultural activities associated with high population density are the main factors leading to the high abundance of microplastics in farmland soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- De Bi
- Suzhou Polytechnic Institute of Agriculture, Suzhou 215000, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Beibei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zhu Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yabing Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Xin Ke
- Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chengwang Huang
- Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wuxing Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yongming Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Peter Christie
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Longhua Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
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19
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Zhang Y, Wang K, Chen W, Ba Y, Khan K, Chen W, Tu C, Chen C, Xu L. Effects of land use and landscape on the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in soil, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 847:157598. [PMID: 35878858 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution in the soil environment has gathered widespread attention. However, little is known about the effects of land use and landscape patterns on the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in the soil. Herein, the microplastic pollution in different land uses (facility farmland, traditional farmland, orchard, grassland, and woodland) in Yuanmou County, Yunnan Province was investigated. The results showed that the abundance of microplastic ranged from 50.000 to 3450.0 items·kg-1, with an average abundance of 595.00 ± 740.00 items·kg-1 and a median of 375.00 items·kg-1. Microplastics were found to primarily be green-coloured (28.4 %), fragment (72.7 %) in shape, <1 mm (75.7 %) in size, and composed of polypropylene (51.4 %). There were significant differences in the abundance and characteristics of the microplastics between different land use types. Microplastic abundance in facility farmlands, traditional farmlands, and orchard lands was significantly higher than that of grasslands and woodlands (p < 0.05). The main shape of the microplastics in facility farmlands, traditional farmlands, and orchards was fragments and it was fibers in grasslands and woodlands. The median particle size of microplastics in facility farmlands (539.50 μm) and traditional farmlands (574.00 μm), was smaller than those in the orchard (737.60 μm), grasslands (697.60 μm), and woodlands (1239.4 μm). Discrepancies among different land uses may be due to various reasons, such as different pollution sources and the weathering degree of microplastics. The results of the redundancy analysis showed that the microplastic abundance was negatively correlated with the largest patch index. It also showed that microplastic pollution was closely related to human activities. This study provides an important basis for further research on microplastic ecosystem risks that are associated with land use and provides a data basis for formulating effective prevention and control strategies and measures to mitigate soil microplastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Zhang
- Kunming Natural Resources Comprehensive Investigation Center, China Geological Survey, Kunming, Yunnan 650100, China
| | - Kang Wang
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; School of Environmental Studies & State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Weizhi Chen
- Kunming Natural Resources Comprehensive Investigation Center, China Geological Survey, Kunming, Yunnan 650100, China
| | - Yong Ba
- Kunming Natural Resources Comprehensive Investigation Center, China Geological Survey, Kunming, Yunnan 650100, China
| | - Kifayatullah Khan
- Department of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, University of Swat, Swat 19130, Pakistan
| | - Wei Chen
- School of Environmental Studies & State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Chen Tu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Changer Chen
- Environmental Research Institute/School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li Xu
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China.
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20
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Zhang H, Huang Y, An S, Zhao J, Xiao L, Li H, Huang Q. Microplastics trapped in soil aggregates of different land-use types: A case study of Loess Plateau terraces, China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 310:119880. [PMID: 35932900 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Land-use types may affect soil aggregates' stability and organic carbon (OC) distribution characteristics, but little is known about the effects on the distribution characteristics of microplastics (MPs) in the aggregates. Hence, the MPs abundance of soil aggregates and analyzed aggregates' stability, composition, and OC content from two soil layers of four land-use types in Gansu Province were investigated in this study. The total MPs abundances in woodland, farmland (wheat, maize, and potato), orchard, and intercropping (potato + apple orchard) of top and deep soils were 1383.3 and 1477.9, 1324.6 and 931.1, 1757.1 and 1930.9, 2127.2 and 1998.0, 1335.9 and 886.7, and 1777.5 and 1683.3 items kg-1, respectively. The largest MPs abundance was detected in the >5 mm fractions of topsoil in potato (3077.3 items kg-1), followed by maize (3044.7 items kg-1) and intercropping (2718.4 items kg-1). In the topsoil, the total MPs abundance increased significantly with decreasing aggregate stability, and also was positively correlated with bulk density, microbial biomass, and total nitrogen contents of bulk soil. Summarizing, the abundance distribution of MPs correlates with the soil aggregate characteristics of the different land-use types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and The Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yimei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and The Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Shaoshan An
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Junfeng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and The Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Li Xiao
- Institute of Ecological Environment Restoration in Mine Areas of West China, College of Geology and Environment, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710054, China
| | - Haohao Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and The Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qian Huang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and The Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Shaanxi, China
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21
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Shi R, Liu W, Lian Y, Wang Q, Zeb A, Tang J. Phytotoxicity of polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 317:115441. [PMID: 35661879 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite the fact that microplastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems has received increasing attention, there are few studies on the potential effects of different microplastics on terrestrial plants. In this study, the toxicity of polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) microplastics with different concentrations (0, 10, 100, 500 and 1000 mg/L) to tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) were studied by a hydroponic experiment. The results showed that the three microplastics had inhibitory effects on seed germination when the concentration was less than or equal to 500 mg/L, and the inhibition rate ranged from 10.1% to 23.6%. Interestingly, the inhibition effect was alleviated under 1000 mg/L microplastic treatment. Generally, PE was more toxic to seedling growth than PS and PP. Additionally, it was confirmed that microplastics could cause oxidative stress in plants, and PP was relatively less toxic to antioxidant enzymes than PS and PE. These results can provide a theoretical basis and data support for further investigation on the toxicity of microplastics to tomatoes, and contribute to understanding the type specificity of microplastics' toxic effects on plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiying Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Ecology Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, PR China
| | - Weitao Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Ecology Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, PR China.
| | - Yuhang Lian
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Ecology Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, PR China
| | - Qi Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Ecology Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, PR China
| | - Aurang Zeb
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Ecology Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, PR China
| | - Jingchun Tang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Ecology Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, PR China
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22
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Chia RW, Lee JY, Cha J. Comment on the paper 'Soil microplastic pollution under different land uses in tropics, southwestern China'. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 298:134289. [PMID: 35283144 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Research on soil microplastics is currently at an early stage, and there is no widely approved sampling protocol. Even so, any basic research should minimize errors to ensure that they are not amplified in future research. This paper examines some weaknesses of the original research paper 'Soil microplastic pollution under different land uses in tropics, southwestern China' recently published in this journal. The authors neglected to report the equipment used for soil sampling and did not use field blank samples. There is also a soil layer that was incorrectly named. The type and pore size of filter paper used for filtration during pre-analytical soil sample preparation is very important. In this paper the nature of the filter paper used, and its larger pore sizes are questionable by today's scientists. In addition, the authors in the original paper also overlooked reporting the statistical package used for statical analysis and ensuring if all data sets obey normality, homogeneity, and equality before running the one-way ANOVA test. This statistical step is widely considered mandatory, especially in the soil science community. So, this makes it difficult to trust the results documented. Furthermore, in the original paper, the needle and stereo microscope instruments used to sort microplastic-like materials prior to proper analysis are not reliable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogers Wainkwa Chia
- Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; Research Institute for Earth Resources, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Yong Lee
- Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; Research on Microplastics in Groundwater (RMPG), Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jihye Cha
- Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; Research on Microplastics in Groundwater (RMPG), Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
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