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Li L, Zhang Y, Kang S, Wang S, Gao T, Wang Z, Luo X, Kang Q, Sajjad W. Characteristics of microplastics and their abundance impacts on microbial structure and function in agricultural soils of remote areas in west China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 360:124630. [PMID: 39079655 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124630] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
As an emergent pollutant, microplastics (MPs) are becoming prevalent in the soil environment. However, the characteristics of MPs and the response of microbial communities to the abundance of MPs in agricultural soils in West China still need to be elucidated in detail. This study utilized the Agilent 8700 Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) to analyze the characteristics of small-sized MPs (20-1000 μm) in soils from un-mulched and mulched agricultural fields in West China, and illustrated their correlation with microbial diversity. The results revealed a higher abundance of MPs in mulched soil ((4.12 ± 2.13) × 105 items kg-1) than that in un-mulched soil ((1.04 ± 0.26) × 105 items kg-1). The detected MPs were dominated by fragments, 20-50 μm and Polyamide (PA). High-throughput sequencing analysis indicated that alpha diversity (Chao1 and Shannon indices) in the plastisphere was lower compared to that in soil, and varied significantly with MPs abundance in soil. As the abundance of MPs increased, the proportion of soil about the degradation of organic matte and photoautotrophic taxa increased, which showed enrichment in the plastisphere. Functional predictions further indicated that MPs abundance affected potential soil functions, such as metabolic pathways associated with the C and N cycling. The plastisphere showed higher functional abundance associated with organic matter degradation, indicating higher potential health risks compared to soil environments. Based on the RDA analyses, it was determined that environmental physicochemical properties and MPs abundance had a greater impact on fungal communities than on bacterial communities. In general, the abundance of MPs affected the microbial diversity composition and potentially influenced the overall performance of soil ecosystems. This study offers empirical data on the abundance of MPs in long-term mulched agricultural fields and new insights for exploring the ecological risk issues associated with MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longrui Li
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yulan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donggang West Rd. 318, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Shichang Kang
- Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donggang West Rd. 318, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10049, China
| | - Shengli Wang
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Tanguang Gao
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Zhaoqing Wang
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xi Luo
- Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donggang West Rd. 318, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10049, China
| | - Qiangqiang Kang
- Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donggang West Rd. 318, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10049, China
| | - Wasim Sajjad
- Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donggang West Rd. 318, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Zhang L, Wang F, Wang W, Su Y, Zhan M, Lu J, Xie B. Using machine learning to reveal drivers of soil microplastics and assess their stock: A national-scale study. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 478:135466. [PMID: 39128149 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
The issue of microplastic (MP) contamination in soil is a significant concern. However, due to limited large-scale studies and stock assessments, our understanding of the drivers of their distribution and fate remains incomplete. To address this, we conducted a comprehensive study in China, collected MP data from 621 sites, and utilized machine learning techniques for analysis. Our findings revealed 9 key factors influencing the distribution of soil MPs, highlighting their nonlinear influence processes. Among these factors, atmospheric deposition emerged as the most dominant driver, while wind and precipitation could lead to the transformation of soil from a sink to a source of MPs. MP concentrations in Chinese soils vary from 1.4 to 4333.1 particles/kg, with human activities significantly affecting their distribution, resulting in higher concentrations in the east and lower concentrations in the west. The estimated MP stock in Chinese soils is 1.92 × 1018 particles, equivalent to a mass of 2.11-8.64 million tonnes. This stock alone surpasses that found in global oceans, making global soil the largest reservoir of MPs. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the environmental behavior of MPs and provides valuable data and theoretical support for the prevention, control, and management of this contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjie Zhang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Wenyue Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yinglong Su
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Min Zhan
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jun Lu
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; Department of Food and Agriculture Technology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bing Xie
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
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3
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Song Q, Zhang Y, Ju C, Zhao T, Meng Q, Cong J. Microbial strategies for effective microplastics biodegradation: Insights and innovations in environmental remediation. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 263:120046. [PMID: 39313172 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2024] [Revised: 09/05/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), diminutive yet ubiquitous fragments arising from the degradation of plastic waste, pervade environmental matrices, posing substantial risks to ecological systems and trophic dynamics. This review meticulously examines the origins, distribution, and biological impacts of MPs, with an incisive focus on elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning their toxicity. We highlight the indispensable role of microbial consortia and enzymatic pathways in the oxidative degradation of MPs, offering insights into enhanced biodegradation processes facilitated by innovative pretreatment methodologies. Central to our discourse is the interplay between MPs and biota, emphasizing the detoxification capabilities of microbial metabolisms and enzymatic functions in ameliorating MPs' deleterious effects. Additionally, we address the practical implementations of MP biodegradation in environmental remediation, advocating for intensified research to unravel the complex biodegradation pathways and to forge effective strategies for the expeditious elimination of MPs from diverse ecosystems. This review not only articulates the pervasive challenges posed by MPs but also positions microbial strategies at the forefront of remedial interventions, thereby paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in environmental conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Song
- College of Marine Science and Biological Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- College of Marine Science and Biological Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Cuiping Ju
- Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Hospital), Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Tianyu Zhao
- College of Marine Science and Biological Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Qingxuan Meng
- College of Marine Science and Biological Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Jing Cong
- College of Marine Science and Biological Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266000, China.
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4
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Gupta E, Mishra VK, Patel A, Srivastava PK. A modified methodology for extraction and quantification of microplastics in soil. NANOIMPACT 2024; 35:100525. [PMID: 39134304 DOI: 10.1016/j.impact.2024.100525] [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: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
The ubiquitousness of microplastics (<5 mm) has become a pressing environmental concern globally due to the extensive use of plastics. Microplastics have been well-studied in aquatic environments but not well-characterized in soils. Present analytical processes to quantify microplastics accurately in soil samples are quite challenging and require improved and validated analytical steps to eliminate the obscurities and biases. We aimed to develop an effective method for the extraction and quantification of microplastics from soil samples. Different ratios of low-(NaCl) and high-density solutions (ZnCl2/ NaBr) were tested to determine the most efficient combination for density-dependent separation of microplastics from soil. The combination of low- (1:6) and high-density (1:3) solutions {as weight of soil(g)/volume of density solution(ml)} accounted for 95% recovery of the spiked microplastic particles from soil samples. Likewise, different soil-to-solution ratios of H2O2 were tested for the removal of soil organic matter with heating and non-heating steps. Prior removal of organic matter from soil samples achieved a clear supernatant that facilitated 99% recovery of microplastic particles. The validation of individually spiked microplastic particles of small (10-100 μm) and large scale (100-5000 μm) resulted in recovery ranging from 88 to 99%. A validated modified method with prior digestion followed by density-dependent separation was further tested using the field samples with microplastic contamination. The microplastics of different shapes, sizes, colours and polymeric compositions were reported efficiently and well characterized in the field-collected soil samples using this method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekta Gupta
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India; Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Virendra Kumar Mishra
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Anju Patel
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar Srivastava
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
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Hu Z, Xiao M, Wu J, Tong Y, Ji J, Huang Q, Ding F, Ding J, Zhu Z, Chen J, Ge T. Effects of microplastics on photosynthesized C allocation in a rice-soil system and its utilization by soil microbial groups. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 466:133540. [PMID: 38241834 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133540] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
The effect of microplastics (MPs) on the allocation of rice photosynthetic carbon (C) in paddy systems and its utilization by soil microorganisms remain unclear. In this study, 13C-CO2 pulse labeling was used to quantify the input and allocation of photosynthetic C in a rice-soil system under MPs amendment. Rice was pulse-labeled at tillering growth stage under 0.01% and 1% w/w polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MP amendments. Plants and soils were sampled 24 h after pulse labeling. Photosynthesized C in roots in MP treatments was 30-54% lower than that in no-MP treatments. The 13C in soil organic C (SOC) in PVC-MP-amended bulk soil was 4.3-4.7 times higher than that in no-MP treatments. PVC and high-dose PE increased the photosynthetic C in microbial biomass C in the rhizosphere soil. MPs altered the allocation of photosynthetic C to microbial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) groups. High-dose PVC increased the 13C gram-positive PLFAs. Low-dose PE and high-dose PVC enhanced 13C in fungal PLFAs in bulk soil (including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Zygomycota) by 175% and 197%, respectively. The results highlight that MPs alter plant C input and microbial utilization of rhizodeposits, thereby affecting the C cycle in paddy ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi'e Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Mouliang Xiao
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Jialing Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Yaoyao Tong
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Jianhong Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Qing Huang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, School of Ecology & Environment, Hainan University, Hainan 570228, China
| | - Fan Ding
- College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110086, China
| | - Jina Ding
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Zhenke Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Jianping Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Tida Ge
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
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Liu K, Li Q, Andrady AL, Wang X, He Y, Li D. Underestimated activity-based microplastic intake under scenario-specific exposures. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 18:100316. [PMID: 37860830 PMCID: PMC10583090 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2023.100316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite increasing alarms over the health impacts of microplastics (MPs) due to their detection in human organs and feces, precise exposure evaluations remain scarce. To comprehend their risks, there is a distinct need to prioritize quantitive estimates in MP exposome, particularly at the environmentally-realistic level. Here we used a method rooted in real-world MP measurements and activity patterns to determine the daily intake of MPs through inhalation and from ground dust/soil ingestion. We found that nearly 80% of this intake comes from residential sectors, with activity intensity and behavioral types significantly affecting the human MP burden. The data showed a peak in MP exposure for those aged 18-64. When compared to dietary MP intake sources like seafood, salt, and water, we identified a previously underestimated exposure from inhalation and dust/soil ingestion, emphasizing the need for more realistic evaluations that incorporate activity factors. This discovery raises questions about the accuracy of past studies and underscores MP's potential health risks. Moreover, our time-based simulations revealed increased MP intake during the COVID-19 lockdown due to more surface dust ingestion, shedding light on how global health crises may inadvertently elevate MP exposure risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Qingqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Anthony L. Andrady
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yinan He
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Daoji Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
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Li K, Xiu X, Hao W. Microplastics in soils: Production, behavior process, impact on soil organisms, and related toxicity mechanisms. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 350:141060. [PMID: 38159733 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.141060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, microplastics (MPs) pollution has become a hot ecological issue of global concern and MP pollution in soil is becoming increasingly serious. Studies have shown that MPs have adverse effects on soil biology and ecological functions. Although MPs are evident in soils, identifying their source, abundance, and types is difficult because of the complexity and variability of soil components. In addition, the effects of MPs on soil physicochemical properties (PCP), including direct effects such as direct interaction with soil particles and indirect effects such as the impact on soil organisms, have not been reported in a differentiated manner. Furthermore, at present, the soil ecological effects of MPs are mostly based on biological toxicity reports of their exudate or size effects, whereas the impact of their surface-specific properties (such as environmentally persistent free radicals, surface functional groups, charge, and curvature) on soil ecological functions is not fully understood. Considering this, this paper reviews the latest research findings on the production and behavioral processes of MPs in soil, the effects on soil PCP, the impacts on different soil organisms, and the related toxic mechanisms. The above discussion will enhance further understanding of the behavioral characteristics and risks of MPs in soil ecosystems and provide some theoretical basis for further clarification of the molecular mechanisms of the effects of MPs on soil organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, China.
| | - Xiaojia Xiu
- Changwang School of Honors, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
| | - Wanqi Hao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, China
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Fu F, Sun Y, Yang D, Zhao L, Li X, Weng L, Li Y. Combined pollution and soil microbial effect of pesticides and microplastics in greenhouse soil of suburban Tianjin, Northern China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 340:122898. [PMID: 37944885 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122898] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Current-used pesticides (CUPs) and plastic films are essential materials used in greenhouse cultivation, which can lead to the residual accumulation of CUPs and microplastics (MPs) over time. The impact of CUPs and MPs on soil quality and food safety cannot be overlooked. However, the combined pollution resulting from CUPs and MPs in greenhouse soil remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a survey at 30 greenhouse sites in the Wuqing District of Tianjin, China, to investigate the pollution levels and characteristics of CUPs and MPs using QuEChERS combined with LC-MS/MS, and density extraction, 30% H2O2 digestion and micro-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the interactions among these two pollutants, soil physicochemical properties, and the bacterial community in the soil. CUPs were frequently detected in the examined soil samples; however, they posed no significant ecological risks due to their low levels. Furthermore, MPs, which predominantly comprised fragmented and fibrous polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) particles smaller than 1.0 mm, could potentially degrade into nanoplastics, which might subsequently enter the food chain and pose a serious threat to human health. We observed no substantial correlations between CUPs and MPs, except for a negative correlation between dimethomorph and film MPs. The soil pH and total organic carbon (TOC) exhibited interactions with both types of pollutants, whereas soil clay content (CC) only correlated with CUPs, and soil available nitrogen (AN) only correlated with MPs. The variability of soil bacterial communities among the 30 sampling sites was minimal, with the dominant genus being Bacillus. Soil pH, TOC, and CC collectively exerted a strong influence on the microbial community across all samples; however, the effects of CUPs and MPs on the soil microbial structure were marginal. These results contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the environmental stress and ecological risks associated with the combined pollution of CUPs and MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Furong Fu
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs / Key Laboratory of Original Agro-Environmental Pollution Prevention and Control, MARA / Tianjin Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Agro-Product Safety, Tianjin, 300191, China
| | - Yang Sun
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs / Key Laboratory of Original Agro-Environmental Pollution Prevention and Control, MARA / Tianjin Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Agro-Product Safety, Tianjin, 300191, China.
| | - Dan Yang
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs / Key Laboratory of Original Agro-Environmental Pollution Prevention and Control, MARA / Tianjin Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Agro-Product Safety, Tianjin, 300191, China
| | - Lixia Zhao
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs / Key Laboratory of Original Agro-Environmental Pollution Prevention and Control, MARA / Tianjin Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Agro-Product Safety, Tianjin, 300191, China
| | - Xiaojing Li
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs / Key Laboratory of Original Agro-Environmental Pollution Prevention and Control, MARA / Tianjin Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Agro-Product Safety, Tianjin, 300191, China
| | - Liping Weng
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs / Key Laboratory of Original Agro-Environmental Pollution Prevention and Control, MARA / Tianjin Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Agro-Product Safety, Tianjin, 300191, China
| | - Yongtao Li
- College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
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9
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Pan J, Zhang Q, Zhang K, Zhang Z, Guo X. Occurrence of microplastics in agricultural soils in ecologically fragile areas of China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166350. [PMID: 37591376 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
The pollution caused by microplastics (MPs), an emerging pollutant, has been receiving continuous concern. However, the distribution characteristics of MPs in ecologically fragile areas (EFAs), which are sensitive to environmental change and pollution, are still unclear. Here, the abundance and pollution characteristics of MPs in agricultural soils in four typical EFAs in China, namely semiarid farming-pastoral area (SFPA), desert-oasis interlaced area (DOIA), plateau composite erosion area (PCEA) and southwest karst area (SWKA) were investigated. MPs were detected in all agricultural soil samples with a mean abundance of 2685 ± 938 n/kg. DOIA (3193 ± 630 n/kg) had the largest abundance of MPs in agricultural soils, followed by SWKA (2948 ± 819 n/kg), SFPA (2920 ± 935 n/kg), and PCEA (1680 ± 320 n/kg). MPs in four EFAs were mostly small size (0-0.49 mm), accounted for 81.71 %. Fragmented and pelleted MPs were the main shapes, occupying for 51.26 % and 28.53 %, respectively. In addition, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was applied to determine the polymer types of MPs and to assess the pollution risk of MPs, which ranged from 157 to 938, indicating a moderate to high risk. The results revealed that EFAs located in remote inland areas were considerably polluted by MPs, close to the developed coastal areas. This study provided systematic data on MPs pollution of EFAs, which is crucial in preventing further environmental degradation and promoting ecological restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianrui Pan
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Kaiyue Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Zhenming Zhang
- College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550003, China.
| | - Xuetao Guo
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agro-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
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10
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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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11
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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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12
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Zhou Y, Jia Z, Zheng G, Chen L, Zhang Q, Su B, Zhou S. Microplastics in agricultural soils on the coastal plain: Spatial characteristics, influencing factors and sources. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165948. [PMID: 37532042 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Farmland is a major sink for microplastics (MPs), but research on MPs in coastal plain soil, particularly their occurrence in agricultural areas with changing coastlines, is limited. Here, we investigated the distribution, influencing factors and sources of MPs in a typical agricultural county near the southeast coast of China considering different human activities and soil property changes. The average MP concentration in farmland soils was 314 items/kg, ranging from 70.2 to 851.3 items/kg. MPs increased first and then decreased from inland to the coast, and this trend was greatly affected by coastline expansion. Bulk density, clay and textile points of interest (POIs) are the major factors affecting MPs in farmland. Network analysis was used to divide the whole MP community into two modules, and the average similarity between each MP community and the other 25.5 MP communities was >0.5. Overall, the similarity of the MP community tended to decrease with increasing geographical distance (P < 0.01). In the soil environmental factors group, bulk density and clay affected the total MP abundance, accounting for 14.7 % and 9.4 % of MPs, respectively. After fitting 8 types of POIs and the total MP diversity integrated index (MDII) of farmland, washing POIs (R2 = 0.65, P < 0.01) displayed the greatest and most significant fit with MDII, followed by clothing POIs (R2 = 0.29, P < 0.01). The MDII-POI results showed that the major POI sources of soil MPs were clothing manufacturing and washing POIs. Unlike in urban areas, automobile service POIs, packaging POIs and textile POIs had no significant relationship with the MDII, which may be related to the population and economic development scale. The results emphasize the importance of investigating MP occurrence and sources in coastal agricultural areas to promote the effective management of MPs and plastic emissions in land-sea transition zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Zhou
- School of Geographic Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China; School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Zhenyi Jia
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Gunghui Zheng
- School of Geographic Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Long Chen
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Bo Su
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Shenglu Zhou
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China.
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13
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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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14
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Zhou Y, Jing J, Yu R, Zhao Y, Gou Y, Zhang Z, Tang H, Zhang H, Huang Y. Microplastics in plateau agricultural areas: Spatial changes reveal their source and distribution characteristics. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 319:121006. [PMID: 36610652 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121006] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The Huangshui catchment on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) was selected as the study area to investigate the abundance, distribution characteristics, and influencing factors of microplastics (MPs) in surface agricultural soils (0-20 cm). The MP levels ranged from 6 to 444 items/kg, with an average of 86 items/kg. The relative abundance of small-sized MPs (<2 mm) was higher than that of large-sized MPs (2-5 mm). Polyethylene was the most common, and residual mulching film in farmland was the main source of MPs. The spatial distribution characteristics of MPs were analyzed through inverse distance weight interpolation, and MP abundance in agricultural soils in neighboring urban areas was significantly higher than that in other areas. Further analysis found that population density was significantly positively correlated with MP abundance (R2 = 0.9090, p < 0.01), indicating that human activities play a key role in MP pollution even in remote areas. In addition, the effects of irrigation, land use type, and soil physicochemical properties on the abundance of MPs were analyzed. Atmospheric transport and irrigation with surface water contribute to soil MP pollution. The direct effects of soil properties on MP abundance are still largely unclear, requiring further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhou
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Jing Jing
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Ruyue Yu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Land Quality, Ministry of Natural Resources, Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Yunze Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Land Quality, Ministry of Natural Resources, Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Yuxuan Gou
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Land Quality, Ministry of Natural Resources, Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Zhengyu Zhang
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Huaizhi Tang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Land Quality, Ministry of Natural Resources, Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Hongyan Zhang
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China.
| | - Yuanfang Huang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Land Quality, Ministry of Natural Resources, Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
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15
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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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16
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Hao Y, Sun H, Zeng X, Dong G, Kronzucker HJ, Min J, Xia C, Lam SS, Shi W. Smallholder vegetable farming produces more soil microplastics pollution than large-scale farming. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 317:120805. [PMID: 36470457 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) accumulation in farmland has attracted global concern. Smallholder farming is the dominant type in China's agriculture. Compared with large-scale farming, smallholder farming is not constrained by restrictive environmental policies and public awareness about pollution. Consequently, the degree to which smallholder farming is associated with MP pollution in soils is largely unknown. Here, we collected soil samples from both smallholder and large-scale vegetable production systems to determine the distribution and characteristics of MPs. MP abundance in vegetable soils was 147.2-2040.4 MP kg-1 (averaged with 500.8 MP kg-1). Soil MP abundance under smallholder cultivation (730.9 MP kg-1) was twice that found under large-scale cultivation (370.7 MP kg-1). MP particle sizes in smallholder and large-scale farming were similar, and were mainly <1 mm. There were also differences in MP characteristics between the two types of vegetable soils: fragments (60%) and fibers (34%) were dominant under smallholder cultivation, while fragments (42%), fibers (42%), and films (11%) were dominant under large-scale cultivation. We observed a significant difference in the abundance of fragments and films under smallholder versus large-scale cultivation; the main components of MPs under smallholder cultivation were PP (34%), PE (28%), and PE-PP (10%), while these were PE (29%), PP (16%), PET (16%), and PE-PP (13%) under large-scale cultivation. By identifying the shape and composition of microplastics, it can be inferred that agricultural films were not the main MP pollution source in vegetable soil. We show that smallholder farming produces more microplastics pollution than large-scale farming in vegetable soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqiong Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Changshu National Agro-Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Haijun Sun
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Xiaoping Zeng
- Jiangsu Provincial Agricultural Technology Extension Station, Nanjing, 210036, China
| | | | - Herbert J Kronzucker
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Ju Min
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Changshu National Agro-Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Changlei Xia
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Su Shiung Lam
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China; Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), University Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Weiming Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Changshu National Agro-Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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17
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Chen L, Yu L, Li Y, Han B, Zhang J, Tao S, Liu W. Spatial Distributions, Compositional Profiles, Potential Sources, and Intfluencing Factors of Microplastics in Soils from Different Agricultural Farmlands in China: A National Perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:16964-16974. [PMID: 36417694 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
More attention has been paid to ubiquitous microplastics (MPs). As a major food producer, the situation of MPs in China's farmland is of even greater concern. Spatial distributions, characteristics, and compositions of MPs in five types of agricultural lands with representative crops were investigated by collecting 477 soil samples from 109 cities in 31 administrative regions of mainland China. To better control MPs in farmland, nearly 400 field questionnaires were obtained, and meteorological conditions, soil properties, and other statistics were collected to quantify potential sources and determine influencing factors. The average abundances of MPs was 2462 ± 3767 items/kg in the agricultural soils, and MP abundance in the greenhouses, farmlands with film mulching, and blank farmlands from four integrated physical geographic regions were determined. The contributions of agricultural films, livestock and poultry manures, irrigation water, and air deposition to MPs in farmlands have been calculated. Influencing factors, such as recovery method, plowing frequency, meteorological conditions, and part of soil properties, were significantly correlated with the abundances of MPs in the agricultural soils (p < 0.05), while mulching age mainly affected MPs in the greenhouses (p < 0.05). This study provides basic scientific data for decision-making and further analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- LiYuan Chen
- Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Lu Yu
- Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - YuJun Li
- Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - BingJun Han
- Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - JiaoDi Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Shu Tao
- Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - WenXin Liu
- Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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18
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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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19
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Katsumi N, Nagao S, Okochi H. Addition of polyvinyl pyrrolidone during density separation with sodium iodide solution improves recovery rate of small microplastics (20-150 μm) from soils and sediments. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:135730. [PMID: 35863422 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify a method to accurately separate small microplastics (<100 μm) from soil and sediment. We initially conducted spike-and-recovery tests using polyethylene microbeads and density separation and found that the recovery rate of microplastic particles smaller than 100 μm was less than 60%. This result suggested that previous reports have underestimated the concentrations of microplastics smaller than 100 μm in soil. When polyvinyl pyrrolidone was added and dispersed in a heavy liquid, the recovery rate exceeded 90%, regardless of the microplastic particle size. This improved recovery rate was independent of the type of polymer (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, or nylon 6) and the physicochemical properties of the soil (Andisols, Entisols, or Ultisols), and the method was also effective for marine and lake sediments. Using this method, we measured microplastic concentrations in paddy soil. The results showed that the most common particle size, 20-100 μm, accounted for 64% of all microplastics. Accurate separation from the soil of fractions smaller than 100 μm, which account for the majority of microplastics in soil, will enable an accurate assessment of the impact of microplastics on the soil ecosystem. The method identified in this study can serve as the basic technique for achieving that goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Katsumi
- Faculty of Bioresources and Environmental Sciences, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Nonoichi, Ishikawa, 921-8836, Japan.
| | - Seiya Nagao
- Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, 24, O, Wake, Nomi, Ishikawa, 923-1224, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Okochi
- School of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan
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20
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Lee S, Kang KK, Sung SE, Choi JH, Sung M, Seong KY, Lee J, Kang S, Yang SY, Lee S, Lee KR, Seo MS, Kim K. In Vivo Toxicity and Pharmacokinetics of Polytetrafluoroethylene Microplastics in ICR Mice. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14112220. [PMID: 35683896 PMCID: PMC9182653 DOI: 10.3390/polym14112220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The increased use of plastics has led to severe environmental pollution, particularly by microplastics—plastic particles 5 mm or less in diameter. These particles are formed by environmental factors such as weathering and ultraviolet irradiation, thereby making environmental pollution worse. This environmental pollution intensifies human exposure to microplastics via food chains. Despite potential negative effects, few toxicity assessments on microplastics are available. In this study, two sizes of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microplastics, approximately 5 μm and 10–50 μm, were manufactured and used for single and four-week repeated toxicity and pharmacokinetic studies. Toxicological effects were comprehensively evaluated with clinical signs, body weight, food and water consumption, necropsy findings, and histopathological and clinical-pathological examinations. Blood collected at 15, 30 60, and 120 min after a single administration of microplastics were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. In the toxicity evaluation of single and four-week repeated oral administration of PTFE microplastics, no toxic changes were observed. Therefore, the lethal dose 50 (LD50) and no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) of PTFE microplastics in ICR mice were established as 2000 mg/kg or more. PTFE microplastics were not detected in blood, so pharmacokinetic parameters could not be calculated. This study provides new insight into the long-term toxicity and pharmacokinetics of PTFE microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijoon Lee
- Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Korea; (S.L.); (K.-K.K.); (S.-E.S.); (J.-H.C.); (M.S.)
- Institute of Animal Medicine & Department of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea
| | - Kyung-Ku Kang
- Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Korea; (S.L.); (K.-K.K.); (S.-E.S.); (J.-H.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Soo-Eun Sung
- Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Korea; (S.L.); (K.-K.K.); (S.-E.S.); (J.-H.C.); (M.S.)
- Department of Biomaterials Science (BK21 Four Program), Life and Industry Convergence Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea; (K.-Y.S.); (J.L.); (S.K.); (S.Y.Y.)
| | - Joo-Hee Choi
- Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Korea; (S.L.); (K.-K.K.); (S.-E.S.); (J.-H.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Minkyoung Sung
- Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Korea; (S.L.); (K.-K.K.); (S.-E.S.); (J.-H.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Keum-Yong Seong
- Department of Biomaterials Science (BK21 Four Program), Life and Industry Convergence Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea; (K.-Y.S.); (J.L.); (S.K.); (S.Y.Y.)
| | - Jian Lee
- Department of Biomaterials Science (BK21 Four Program), Life and Industry Convergence Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea; (K.-Y.S.); (J.L.); (S.K.); (S.Y.Y.)
| | - Subin Kang
- Department of Biomaterials Science (BK21 Four Program), Life and Industry Convergence Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea; (K.-Y.S.); (J.L.); (S.K.); (S.Y.Y.)
| | - Seong Yun Yang
- Department of Biomaterials Science (BK21 Four Program), Life and Industry Convergence Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea; (K.-Y.S.); (J.L.); (S.K.); (S.Y.Y.)
| | - Sunjong Lee
- Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Cheonan 31056, Korea;
| | - Kyeong-Ryoon Lee
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongju 28116, Korea;
- Department of Bioscience, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Min-Soo Seo
- Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Korea; (S.L.); (K.-K.K.); (S.-E.S.); (J.-H.C.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence: (M.-S.S.); (K.K.); Tel.: +82-53-790-5727 (M.-S.S.); +82-53-790-5700 (K.K.)
| | - KilSoo Kim
- Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Korea; (S.L.); (K.-K.K.); (S.-E.S.); (J.-H.C.); (M.S.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 80 Dahakro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Korea
- Correspondence: (M.-S.S.); (K.K.); Tel.: +82-53-790-5727 (M.-S.S.); +82-53-790-5700 (K.K.)
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