Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution characteristics of microplastics in the soil of mangrove restoration wetland and the effects of microplastics on soil characteristics

  • Published:
Ecotoxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The dense vegetation in the wetland could effectively retain microplastic particles, and the distribution of microplastics varied significantly under different planting densities. In addition, microplastics in the soil environment can affect soil properties to a certain extent, which in turn can affect soil functions and biodiversity. In this study, we investigated the distribution of soil microplastics in a mangrove restoration wetland under different planting densities and their effects on wetland soil properties. The results indicated that the average abundance of soil microplastics was 2177.5 n/500 g, of which 70.9% exhibited a diameter ranging from 0.038–0.05 mm, while the remaining soil microplastics accounted for less than 20% of all microplastics, indicating that smaller-diameter microplastics were more likely to accumulate in wetland soil. The microplastic abundance could be ranked based on the planting density as follows: 0.5 × 0.5 m > 1.0 × 0.5 m > 1.0 × 1.0 m > control area. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the predominant microplastic categories in this region included polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 52%), polyethylene (PE, 24%) and polypropylene (PP, 15%). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed fractures and tears on the surface of microplastics. EDS energy spectra indicated a large amount of metal elements on the surface of microplastics. Due to the adsorptive features of PET, this substance could influence the soil particle size distribution and thus the soil structure. All physicochemical factors, except for the soil pH, were significantly affected by PET. In addition, the CV analysis results indicated that soils in vegetated areas are more susceptible to PET than are soils in bare ground areas, leading to greater variation in their properties.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altunkaynak B, Gamgam H (2019) Bootstrap confidence intervals for the coefficient of quartile variation. Commun Statist Simulation Comput 48(7):2138–2146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amrutha K, Warrier AK (2020) The first report on the source-to-sink characterization of microplastic pollution from a riverine environment in tropical India. Sci Total Environ 739:140377

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashton K, Holmes L, Turner A (2010) Association of metals with plastic production pellets in the marine environment. Mar Pollut Bull 60(11):2050–2055

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bandow N, Will V, Wachtendorf V, Simon F-G (2017) Contaminant release from aged microplastic. Environ Chem 14(6):394–405

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-David EA, Habibi M, Haddad E, Hasanin M, Angel DL, Booth AM, Sabbah I (2021) Microplastic distributions in a domestic wastewater treatment plant: Removal efficiency, seasonal variation and influence of sampling technique. Sci Total Environ 752:141880–141880

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boer M, Puigdefábregas J (2010) Effects of spatially structured vegetation patterns on hillslope erosion in a semiarid Mediterranean environment: a simulation study. Earth Surf Process Landforms 30(2):149–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boots B, Russell CW, Green DS (2019) Effects of microplastics in soil ecosystems: above and below ground. Environ Sci Technol 53(19):11496–11506

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carson HS (2013) The incidence of plastic ingestion by fishes: From the prey’s perspective. Mar Pollut Bull 74(1):170–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chamas A, Moon H, Zheng JJ, Qiu Y, Tabassum T, Jang JH, Abu-Omar M, Scott SL, Suh S (2020) Degradation rates of plastics in the environment. ACS Sustainable Chem Eng 8(9):3494–3511

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen HQ, Wang YH, Sun X, Peng YK, Xiao L (2020) Mixing effect of polylactic acid microplastic and straw residue on soil property and ecological function. Chemosphere 243:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chi GY, Chen X, Shi Y (2011) Effects of land use type on the profile distributions of soil amorphous iron and total phosphorus. Adv Sci Lett 4(1):156–158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng J (2019) Effects of mangrove wetland restoration on the heavy metals and microplastics of soils in Jinjiang Estuaty, Huanqiao University, Xiamen.

  • Deng J, Guo PY, Zhang XY, Su HT, Li YQ (2020) Microplastics and accumulated heavy metals in restored mangrove wetland surface sediments at Jinjiang Estuary (Fujian, China). Mar Pollut Bull 159:111482

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dong MT, Zhang QQ, Xing XL, Chen W, She ZB, Luo ZJ (2020) Raman spectra and surface changes of microplastics weathered under natural environments. Sci Total Environ 739:1–9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Edo C, Gonzalez-Pleiter M, Tamayo-Belda M, Ortega-Ojeda FE, Leganes F, Fernandez-Pinas F, Rosal R (2020) Microplastics in sediments of artificially recharged lagoons: Case study in a Biosphere Reserve. Sci Total Environ 729:138824

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fei YF, Huang SY, Zhang HB, Tong YZ, Wen DS, Xia XY, Wang H, Luo YM, Barcelo D (2020) Response of soil enzyme activities and bacterial communities to the accumulation of microplastics in an acid cropped soil. Sci Total Environ 707:1–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez C, Alonso C, Babin MM, Pro J, Carbonell G, Tarazona JV (2004) Ecotoxicological assessment of doxycycline in aged pig manure using multispecies soil systems. Sci Total Environ 323(1-3):63–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frere L, Paul-Pont I, Moreau J, Soudant P, Lambert C, Huvet A, Rinnert E (2016) A semi-automated Raman micro-spectroscopy method for morphological and chemical characterizations of microplastic litter. Mar Pollut Bull 113(1-2):461–468

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garces-Ordonez O, Castillo-Olaya VA, Granados-Briceno AF, Blandon Garcia LM, Espinosa Diaz LF (2019) Marine litter and microplastic pollution on mangrove soils of the Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean. Mar Pollut Bull 145:455–462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Meza JV, Ramos E, Carrillo-Chavez A, Duran-de-Bazua C (2004) Mineralogical and chemical characterization of historical mine tailings from the Valenciana Mine, Guanajuato, Mexico: Environmental implications. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 72(1):170–177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Green DS, Boots B, Sigwart J, Jiang S, Rocha C (2016) Effects of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on a marine ecosystem engineer (Arenicola marina) and sediment nutrient cycling. Environ Pollut 208:426–434

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hall DJM, Jones HR, Crabtree WL, Daniels TL (2010) Claying and deep ripping can increase crop yields and profits on water repellent sands with marginal fertility in southern Western Australia. Soil Res 48(2):178–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han M, Niu XR, Tang M, Zhang BT, Wang GQ, Yue WF, Kong XL, Zhu JQ (2020) Distribution of microplastics in surface water of the lower Yellow River near estuary. Sci Total Environ 707:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong SB, Piao SL, Chen AP, Liu YW, Liu LL, Peng SS, Sardans J, Sun Y, Penuelas J, Zeng H (2018) Afforestation neutralizes soil pH. Nat Commun 9:1–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu R, Wang XP, Xu JS, Zhang YF, Pan YX, Su X (2020) The mechanism of soil nitrogen transformation under different biocrusts to warming and reduced precipitation: From microbial functional genes to enzyme activity. Sci Total Environ 722:1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang XQ, Wu WF, Xia Y, Li WB, Gong YY, Li ZJ (2019) Alkali resistant nanocomposite gel beads as renewable adsorbents for water phosphate recovery. Sci Total Environ 685:10–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Y, Li W, Gao J, Wang F, Yang W, Han L, Lin D, Min B, Zhi Y, Grieger K, Yao J (2021) Effect of microplastics on ecosystem functioning: Microbial nitrogen removal mediated by benthic invertebrates. Sci Total Environ 754:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janczak K, Hrynkiewicz K, Znajewska Z, Dabrowska G (2018) Use of rhizosphere microorganisms in the biodegradation of PLA and PET polymers in compost soil. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 130:65–75

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeong SW (2014) The effect of grain size on the viscosity and yield stress of fine-grained sediments. J Mt Sci 11(1):31–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinigopoulou V, Pashalidis I, Kalderis D, Anastopoulos I (2022) Microplastics as carriers of inorganic and organic contaminants in the environment: A review of recent progress. J Mol Liquids 350:118580

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Zhang H, Zhang KN, Yang RJ, Li RZ, Li YF (2018) Characterization, source, and retention of microplastic in sandy beaches and mangrove wetlands of the Qinzhou Bay, China. Mar Pollut Bull 136:401–406

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li RL, Zhang LL, Xue BM, Wang YH (2019) Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in the mangrove sediment of the semi-enclosed Maowei Sea of the south China sea: New implications for location, rhizosphere, and sediment compositions. Environ Pollut 244:685–692

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Tang L, Liu Y, Zeng G, Lu Y, Wang J, Yu J, Yu M (2019a) Wetland-a hub for microplastic transmission in the global ecosystem. Resources Conservation and Recycling 142:153–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu HF, Yang XM, Liang CT, Li YZ, Qiao LL, Ai ZM, Xue S, Liu GB (2019b) Interactive effects of microplastics and glyphosate on the dynamics of soil dissolved organic matter in a Chinese loess soil. Catena 182:1–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu HF, Yang XM, Liu GB, Liang CT, Xue S, Chen H, Ritsema CJ, Geissen V (2017) Response of soil dissolved organic matter to microplastic addition in Chinese loess soil. Chemosphere 185:907–917

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lwanga EH, Gertsen H, Gooren H, Peters P, Salanki T, van der Ploeg M, Besseling E, Koelmans AA, Geissen V (2016) Microplastics in the terrestrial ecosystem: implications for lumbricus terrestris (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae). Environ Sci Technol 50(5):2685–2691

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Machado AAD, Lau CW, Kloas W, Bergmann J, Bacheher JB, Faltin E, Becker R, Gorlich AS, Rillig MC (2019) Microplastics can change soil properties and affect plant performance. Environ Sci Technol 53(10):6044–6052

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Machado AADS, Lau CW, Till J, Kloas W, Lehmann A, Becker R, Rillig MC (2018) Impacts of microplastics on the soil biophysical environment. Environ Sci Technol 52(17):9656–9665

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin C, Almahasheer H, Duarte CM (2019) Mangrove forests as traps for marine litter. Environ Pollut 247:499–508

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mehdinia A, Dehbandi R, Hamzehpour A, Rahnama R (2020) Identification of microplastics in the sediments of southern coasts of the Caspian Sea, north of Iran. Environ Pollut 258:10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mengel K (1991) Available nitrogen in soils and its determination by the ‘N-Min’ method and by electroultrafiltration (EUF). Fertil Res 28(3):251–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naji A, Nuri M, Amiri P, Niyogi S (2019) Small microplastic particles (S-MPPs) in sediments of mangrove ecosystem on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf. Mar Pollut Bull 146:305–311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nguye TT, Marschner P (2014) Respiration in mixes of sandy and clay soils: influence of clay type and addition rate. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 14(4):881–887.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nor NHM, Obbard JP (2014) Microplastics in Singapore’s coastal mangrove ecosystems. Mar Pollut Bull 79(1-2):278–283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peng GY, Zhu BS, Yang DQ, Su L, Shi HH, Li DJ (2017) Microplastics in sediments of the Changjiang Estuary, China. Environ Pollut 225:283–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qi Q, Zhang DJ, Zhang MY, Tong SZ, Wang WH, An Y (2021) Spatial distribution of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in disturbed Carex tussock wetland. Ecol Indic 120:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qi YL, Ossowicki A, Yang XM, Lwanga EH, Dini-Andreote F, Geissen V, Garbeva P (2020) Effects of plastic mulch film residues on wheat rhizosphere and soil properties. J Hazardous Mater 387:1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rillig MC, Ingraffia R, Machado A (2017) Microplastic Incorporation into Soil in Agroecosystems. Front Plant Sci 8:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rubol S, Manzoni S, Bellin A, Porporato A (2013) Modeling soil moisture and oxygen effects on soil biogeochemical cycles including dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). Adv Water Res 62:106–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarand I, Timonen S, Nurmiaho-Lassila E-L, Koivula T, Haahtela K, Romantschuk M, Sen R (1998) Microbial biofilms and catabolic plasmid harbouring degradative fluorescent pseudomonads in Scots pine mycorrhizospheres developed on petroleum contaminated soil. Fems Microbiol Ecol 27(2):115–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sutton R, Mason SA, Stanek SK, Willis-Norton E, Wren IF, Box C (2016) Microplastic contamination in the San Francisco Bay, California, USA. Mar Pollut Bull 109(1):230–235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tan XL, Xu B, Cai LQ, Wang JD, Peng JP(2019) Occurrence and organic contaminant-carrier effect of microplastics in surface water from the Feilaixia Reservoir in the Beijiang River, China. Chemosphere 221(8):1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Tubic A, Loncarski M, Apostolovic T, Isakovski MK, Trickovic J, Jazic JM, Agbaba J (2021) Adsorption mechanisms of chlorobenzenes and trifluralin on primary polyethylene microplastics in the aquatic environment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28(42):59416–59429

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Veerasingam S, Saha M, Suneel V, Vethamony P, Rodrigues AC, Bhattacharyya S, Naik BG (2016) Characteristics, seasonal distribution and surface degradation features of microplastic pellets along the Goa coast, India. Chemosphere 159:496–505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Lv SH, Zhang MY, Chen GC, Zhu TB, Zhang S, Teng Y, Christie P, Luo YM (2016) Effects of plastic film residues on occurrence of phthalates and microbial activity in soils. Chemosphere 151:171–177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JD, Peng JP, Tan Z, Gao YF, Zhan ZW, Chen QQ, Cai LQ (2017) Microplastics in the surface sediments from the Beijiang River littoral zone: Composition, abundance, surface textures and interaction with heavy metals. Chemosphere 171:248–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Zou X, Peng C, Qiao S, Wang T, Yu W, Khokiattiwong S, Kornkanitnan N (2020) Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in surface sediments from the Gulf of Thailand. Mar Pollut Bull 152:110916

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang YJ, Chen SC, Guang SS, Wang Y, Zhang XM, Chen WX (2019) Continuous post-polycondensation of high-viscosity poly(ethylene terephthalate) in the molten state. J Appl Polym Sci 136(19):1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weintraub MN, Schimel JP (2005) The seasonal dynamics of amino acids and other nutrients in Alaskan Arctic tundra soils. Biogeochemistry 73(2):359–380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong JKH, Lee KK, Tang KHD, Yap PS (2020) Microplastics in the freshwater and terrestrial environments: Prevalence, fates, impacts and sustainable solutions. Sci Total Environ 719:1–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan M, Yu L, Zhang L, Guo Y, Dai K, Chen Y (2014) Phosphatase activity and culture conditions of the yeast Candida mycoderma sp and analysis of organic phosphorus hydrolysis ability. J Environ Sci 26(11):2315–2321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan Y, Kuramae EE, de Hollander M, Klinkhamer PGL, van Veen JA (2017) Functional traits dominate the diversity-related selection of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere. ISME J 11(1):56–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yi M, Zhou S, Zhang L, Ding S (2021) The effects of three different microplastics on enzyme activities and microbial communities in soil. Water Environ Res 93(1):24–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan XZ, Li SJ, Jeon SB, Deng S, Zhao L, Lee KB (2020) Valorization of waste polyethylene terephthalate plastic into N-doped microporous carbon for CO2 capture through a one-pot synthesis. J Hazardous Mater 399:1–10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang JY, Gu PF, Li LY, Zong LY, Zhao WJ (2016) Changes of soil particle size fraction along a chronosequence in sandy desertified land: a fundamental process for ecosystem succession and ecological restoration. J Soils Sediments 16(12):2651–2656

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Q, Zhang HB, Fu CC, Zhou Y, Luo YM (2018) The distribution and morphology of microplastics in coastal soils adjacent to the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea. Geoderma 322:201–208

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 20777021), the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China (No. 2017J01018), Quanzhou City Science & Technology Program of China (No. 2018Z003), Teaching development and reform project of Huaqiao University (19JF-JXGZ25), New Engineering Demonstration Course Construction Project of Huaqiao University, 2019 (No.22) and Subsidized Project for Postgraduates’ Innovative Fund in Scientific Research of Huaqiao University. The Instrumental Analysis Centre of Huaqiao University for analytical characterization is also acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, China

    Bo Hu, Peiyong Guo, Yifan Jin, Yiting Nan, Jun Deng, Junming He & Sijia Chen

  2. Instrumental Analysis Center, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, China

    Siyu Han & Yaqing Wu

Authors
  1. Bo Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peiyong Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Siyu Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yifan Jin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yiting Nan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jun Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Junming He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Yaqing Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Sijia Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peiyong Guo.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Supplementary Information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hu, B., Guo, P., Han, S. et al. Distribution characteristics of microplastics in the soil of mangrove restoration wetland and the effects of microplastics on soil characteristics. Ecotoxicology 31, 1120–1136 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-022-02561-3

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-022-02561-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation