Comparison of Microplastic Characteristics in Mulched and Greenhouse Soils of a Major Agriculture Area, Korea

Chia, Rogers Wainkwa; Lee, Jin‐Yong; Lee, Min Wook; Lee, Sungbeen

doi:10.1007/s10924-022-02746-1

Cited by 15 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Of the studies conducted on MPs in soil in Korea, only four studies (Choi et al, 2021;Kim et al, 2021;Park et al, 2022;Chia et al, 2023b) provided actual MP data (Table 5). One of these studies, conducted by Kim et al (2021), focused on soil MPs in a rural area near Seoul, specifically in Yongin, Korea.…”

Section: Mps In Soil and Risk Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These findings highlight the importance of agricultural practices and their contributions to MP pollution in agricultural soils, emphasizing the need for targeted strategies and management approaches to minimize MPs contamination in agricultural environments. Chia et al (2023b) conducted a field investigation in Haean, a basin with heavy agricultural activity, located approximately 115 km northeast of Seoul, bordering the military demarcation line. This study focused on analyzing the MPs in the top soil (0-10 cm) obtained from both mulched fields and greenhouses.…”

Section: Mps In Soil and Risk Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The findings demonstrated varying levels of MP pollution in the sampled areas. Specifically, the MP concentrations ranged from 50 to 383 particles/kg in greenhouses and (Choi et al, 2021;Kim et al 2021;Park et al, 2022;Chia et al, 2023b).…”

Section: Mps In Soil and Risk Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…from 158 to 235 particles/kg in mulched fields. However, as the other three studies did not provide specific data regarding the abundance or polymer types at each sampling point, our evaluation of the pollution levels and their associated risks was based solely on the data reported by Chia et al (2023b). By assessing the pollution levels reported in their study, we gained insights into the potential risks associated with MPs in the Haean agricultural basin.…”

Section: Mps In Soil and Risk Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Figure 4. Comparison of MPs abundance in soil based on land use(Choi et al, 2021;Kim et al 2021; Park et al, 2022;Chia et al, 2023b).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microplastics in soil and groundwater of Korea: Occurrence, characteristics and risk assessment

Lee,

Cha,

Jeong

et al. 2023

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Microplastics (MPs) pollution in soil and groundwater is receiving increased attention, and relevant concerns are growing in Korea. This review explores recent studies conducted in Korea on MPs pollution in both the soil and groundwater. MPs are ubiquitously distributed in Korean soil and groundwater, and their concentrations cannot be disregarded. The most prevalent polymer types are polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which may exhibit some variations depending on the location. The levels of MPs in the groundwater exhibit seasonal variation influenced by monsoonal rainfall, whereas the levels of MPs in the soil show minimal seasonal fluctuations. The most frequently detected size range of MPs is 20 to 100 µm, accounting for approximately 80-90% of the total. The predominant shape observed is fragments, suggesting that the MPs present in soil and groundwater originate from secondary sources, such as the weathering and mechanical abrasion of different plastic products. The identified MP sources encompass various aspects of agricultural practices. These sources include plastics used in greenhouses, plastic mulching films employed for vegetable cultivation, plastic containers for agricultural fertilizers, and plastic components of agricultural machinery. Additionally, unmanaged groundwater wells, which use numerous plastic hoses and connecting pipes for production, are noteworthy potential sources of MPs in this particular country. The risk assessment conducted for the three studied areas, that is, heavy agriculture, permeable basaltic surfaces, and karst aquifers, revealed low to moderate hazard levels and ecological risks associated with soil and groundwater MP pollution. Based on the study findings, a comprehensive nationwide investigation should be conducted focusing on MPs in soil and groundwater. Additionally, immediate legislative measures are needed to regulate the use of plastic products, particularly in agricultural practices. Pollution and Risk AssessmentTo assess and compare the levels of MPs contamination and the associated risks in soil and groundwater in different locations, we employed several indices: the MP contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), hazard index (HI), and ecological risk index (ERI). These indices were calculated using the collected MP data and drawing insights from relevant studies (

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