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Microplastics in Agricultural Soils

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Microplastics in Terrestrial Environments

Part of the book series: The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry ((HEC,volume 95))

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are widespread contaminants that produce at least 300 Mio t of plastic annually, from which a large amount ends up in the environment, where it persists over decades, harms biota, and enters the food chain. Yet, almost nothing is known about MP pollution of agricultural soils. Hence, the aim of this work is to review current knowledge on:

  1. 1.

    The sampling and separation methods in agricultural soils. Currently, the sampling and extraction of MPs from soil are similar to those in water and sediments.

  2. 2.

    Possible source input in soils, such as residual mulch degradation, compost and sewage sludge, atmospheric precipitation, and surface runoff and irrigation.

  3. 3.

    The spatial-temporal distribution of MPs, which may be affected by artificial tillage disturbance, irrigation infiltration, and organisms in agricultural soils.

  4. 4.

    Composition, shape, size, abundance, morphology, and other pollution characteristics that are discussed. However, comparison of reported microplastic abundances and other pollution characteristics are often impossible or require additional calculations based on assumptions.

  5. 5.

    Environmental effect of MPs in agricultural soils.

Yet, the current data based on microplastic pollution in soil is still poor. Accordingly, further research on the prevalence and fate of MPs in agricultural soils is urgently warranted. In addition, we also suggest other perspectives for future studies on microplastic pollution and soil ecotoxicity of plastic wastes, providing a direction for such research.

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Acknowledgment

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support by the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Grant No. 2018D01A38).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China

    Wenfeng Li & Xiangliang Pan

  2. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Bioremediation, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, Urumqi, China

    Wenfeng Li & Xiangliang Pan

  3. Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China

    Yongming Luo

  4. Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, China

    Yongming Luo

  5. Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China

    Xiangliang Pan

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  1. Wenfeng Li
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Correspondence to Xiangliang Pan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China

    Defu He

  2. Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China

    Yongming Luo

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Li, W., Luo, Y., Pan, X. (2020). Microplastics in Agricultural Soils. In: He, D., Luo, Y. (eds) Microplastics in Terrestrial Environments. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, vol 95. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2020_448

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