Pollution and Distribution of Microplastics in Grassland Soils of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Overview

Journal Toxics

Date 2023 Jan 20

PMID 36668812

Authors

Sumei Li

Ziyi Li

Jun Xue

Sha Chen

Hanbing Li

Jian Ji

Yixuan Liang

Jiaying Fei

Weiyi Jiang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are plastic fragments with particle sizes smaller than 5 mm that have potentially harmful effects on ecosystems and human health. The soil environment is not only the source but also the sink of MPs. Thus, it is necessary to fully understand the pollution and distribution of MPs in soils. In this study, Qinghai Province, northeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, was selected as the research area, and 22 soil samples were collected and analyzed to study the levels and distribution characteristics of MPs in grassland soils. MPs were obtained from the soils by using density separation, and a laser confocal micro Raman spectrometer was used for MP identification. The results showed that MPs were detected in all of the soil samples. The total abundances of MPs ranged from 1125 to 1329 items/kg, with a mean abundance of 1202 items/kg. Various types, shapes, sizes, and colors of MPs were observed. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was the dominant polymer in all the grassland soil samples. The size range of 10-50 μm accounted for 50% of all identified MPs. Pellets were the dominant MP shape, and colored MPs accounted for 64% of all MPs. The results revealed the presence of large quantities of MPs in the grassland soils of remote areas as well. This study can act as a reference for further studies of MPs in terrestrial systems. At the end of the paper, the prospects and suggestions for pollution control by soil MPs are given.

Citing Articles

Heavy metal concentrations in soil and ecological risk assessment in the vicinity of Tianzhu Industrial Park, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Qi J, Lu X, Sai N, Liu Y, Du W PeerJ. 2024; 12:e18510.

PMID: 39559325 PMC: 11572346. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.18510.

Non-Negligible Ecological Risks of Urban Wetlands Caused by Cd and Hg on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China.

Wang L, Mao X, Song X, Wei X, Yu H, Xie S Toxics. 2023; 11(8).

PMID: 37624160 PMC: 10458823. DOI: 10.3390/toxics11080654.

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