Characteristics of Microplastic Pollution in Agricultural Soils in Xiangtan, China

Cong Ye, Jing Lin, Zhenguo Li (), Guanghuai Wang and Zeling Li
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Cong Ye: School of Earth Science and Spatial Information Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
Jing Lin: Yuhua Branch of Changsha Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, Changsha 410000, China
Zhenguo Li: School of Earth Science and Spatial Information Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
Guanghuai Wang: School of Earth Science and Spatial Information Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
Zeling Li: School of Earth Science and Spatial Information Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-14

Abstract: Microplastic pollution in agricultural soils has drawn significant attention in recent years. The objective of this study is to investigate the forms and characteristics of microplastic pollution in agricultural soils, specifically focusing on rice and vegetable soil in Xiangtan City. Various analytical techniques including stereomicroscopy, SEM, and FTIR spectroscopy were used to analyze the color, particle size, abundance, and types of microplastics in the study area. The findings indicated that the average abundance of microplastics in the soils in the study area was 4377.44 items/kg, with a maximum of 12,292.33 items/kg. Microplastics with smaller particle sizes were more prevalent, with their colors mainly being yellow, transparent, and black. The shapes of the microplastics were mainly thin-filmy and fibrous, and the types mainly included PE and PP. The abundance of microplastics in the vegetable soil with agricultural films applied was four times more than that without agricultural films. In the research area, the use of agricultural films was the most significant source of microplastics. The study’s findings describe the characteristics of microplastic pollution in agricultural soils in Xiangtan City. The findings could serve as a reference for establishing standardized assessments of microplastic pollution in agricultural soils, in addition to offering data support for Xiangtan City’s future efforts to safeguard agricultural soils and regulate microplastic pollution.

Keywords: microplastic; Xiangtan; agricultural soils; pollution characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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