Minimal Impacts of Microplastics on Soil Physical Properties under Environmentally Relevant Concentrations
- Yingxue YuYingxue YuDepartment of Crop & Soil Sciences, Puyallup Research & Extension Center, Washington State University, Puyallup, Washington 98371, United StatesDepartment of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United StatesMore by Yingxue Yu
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- Anil K. BattuAnil K. BattuEarth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United StatesMore by Anil K. Battu
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- Tamas VargaTamas VargaEarth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United StatesMore by Tamas Varga
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- Adam C. DennyAdam C. DennyNational Security Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United StatesMore by Adam C. Denny
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- Tahsin Md. ZahidTahsin Md. ZahidDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United StatesMore by Tahsin Md. Zahid
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- Indranil ChowdhuryIndranil ChowdhuryDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United StatesMore by Indranil Chowdhury
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- Markus Flury*Markus Flury*E-mail: [email protected]Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Puyallup Research & Extension Center, Washington State University, Puyallup, Washington 98371, United StatesDepartment of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United StatesMore by Markus Flury
Abstract
Agricultural soils are a major reservoir of microplastics, and concerns have arisen about the impacts of microplastics on soil properties and functioning. Here, we measured the physical properties of a silt loam in response to the incorporation of polyester fibers and polypropylene granules over a wide range of concentrations. We further elucidated the underlying mechanisms by determining the role of microplastic shape and the baseline effects from the amendment of soil particles. The incorporation of microplastics into soil tended to increase contact angle and saturated hydraulic conductivity and decrease bulk density and water holding capacity, but not affect aggregate stability. Polyester fibers affected soil physical properties more profoundly than polypropylene granules, due to the vastly different shape of fibers from that of soil particles. However, changes in soil properties were gradual, and significant changes did not occur until a high concentration of microplastics was reached (i.e., 0.5% w/w for polyester fibers and 2% w/w for polypropylene granules). Currently, microplastic concentrations in soils not heavily polluted with plastics are far below these concentrations, and results from this study suggest that microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations have no significant effects on soil physical properties.
Cited By
This article is cited by 1 publications.
- Ziqi Guo, Peng Li, Xiaomei Yang, Zhanhui Wang, Yang Wu, Guanwen Li, Guobin Liu, Coen J. Ritsema, Violette Geissen, Sha Xue. Effects of Microplastics on the Transport of Soil Dissolved Organic Matter in the Loess Plateau of China. Environmental Science & Technology 2023, 57
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, 20138-20147. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c04023