Skip to main content
Article | Tropical Aquatic and Soil Pollution | Volume 3 - Issue 1 - 2023 | 1-14 | https://doi.org/10.53623/tasp.v3i1.152
© 2023 by the author(s), and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License

Abundance and Characteristics of Microplastics in the Soil of a Higher Education Institution in China

Author(s): Kuok Ho Daniel Tang 1 , Yuxin Luo 2
Author(s) information:
1 Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
2 Environmental Science Programme, BNU-HKBU United International College, Zhuhai, China

Corresponding author

Tropical Aquatic and Soil Pollution

Volume 3 - Issue 1 - 2023

 About the journal
Submit your article
While microplastics have been detected in various spheres of the environment, there are few studies examining their abundance in higher education institutions, where their exposure to students and staff could raise concern. This study aims to quantify and characterise the microplastics in the soil of a higher education institution in China. Surface soil samples were collected in triplicate from nine sampling sites distributed evenly across teaching, recreational, and residential areas on campus. The soil samples were sieved with a 5 mm screen, and the fractions passing through the sieve were digested with 30% hydrogen peroxide. Microplastics were density-separated from the digested soil and observed under the microscope. ATR-FTIR was used to determine their compositions. This study reveals a higher abundance of microplastics in teaching and residential areas (150–700 items/kg and 50–650 items/kg, respectively) as compared to recreational areas (0–450 items/kg), with the highest mean abundance (516.7 items/kg) recorded for residential areas. Fibrous and fragment microplastics (31.5% and 33.3%, respectively) were most common in the soil samples, with the former more prevalent in residential areas. There were more black microplastics (36.4%) and white microplastics (29.1%) than those of other colors. Microplastics  0.5 mm constituted the largest fraction (64.3%) of total microplastics recovered and polyethylene microplastics were most abundant (35.2%). This study contributes to a better understanding of microplastic pollution in the compounds of higher education institutions, which could be positively linked to the human activities within those institutions.
Read Full-Text
Previous article
Next article

Zhao, X.; Zhou, Y.; Liang, C.; Song, J.; Yu, S.; Liao, G.; Zou, P.; Tang, K.H.D.; Wu, C. (2023). Airborne microplastics: Occurrence, sources, fate, risks and mitigation. Science of The Total Environment, 858, 159943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159943. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159943

Roland, G.R.J.J.; Lavender, L.K. (2022). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Science Advances, 3, e1700782. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782

Duis, K.; Coors, A. (2016). Microplastics in the aquatic and terrestrial environment: sources (with a specific focus on personal care products), fate and effects. Environmental Sciences Europe, 28, 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-015-0069-y. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-015-0069-y

Thompson, R.C.; Olsen, Y.; Mitchell, R.P.; Davis, A.; Rowland, S.J.; John, A.W.G.; McGonigle, D.; Russell, A.E. (2004). Lost at Sea: Where Is All the Plastic? Science, 304, 838. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1094559. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1094559

Arthur, C.; Baker, J.E.; Bamford, H.A. (2009). Proceedings of the International Research Workshop on the Occurrence, Effects, and Fate of Microplastic Marine Debris; NOAA Marine Debris Division: Tacoma, USA.

Liong, R.M.Y.; Hadibarata, T.; Yuniarto, A.; Tang, K.H.D.; Khamidun, M.H. (2021). Microplastic Occurrence in the Water and Sediment of Miri River Estuary, Borneo Island. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 232, 342. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05297-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05297-8

Koelmans, A.A.; Mohamed Nor, N.H.; Hermsen, E.; Kooi, M.; Mintenig, S.M.; De France, J. (2019). Microplastics in freshwaters and drinking water: Critical review and assessment of data quality. Water Research, 155, 410–422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.02.054. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.02.054

Choong, W.S.; Hadibarata, T.; Tang, D.K.H. (2020). Abundance and Distribution of Microplastics in the Water and Riverbank Sediment in Malaysia–A Review. Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry, 11, 11700–11712. http://doi.org/10.33263/BRIAC114.1170011712. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33263/BRIAC114.1170011712

Nizzetto, L.; Futter, M.; Langaas, S. (2016). Are Agricultural Soils Dumps for Microplastics of Urban Origin? Environmental Science & Technology, 50, 10777–10779. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b04140. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b04140

Tang, K.H.D. (2020). Effects of Microplastics on Agriculture: A Mini-review. Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology, 13, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajee/2020/v13i130170. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/ajee/2020/v13i130170

Chen, Y.; Leng, Y.; Liu, X.; Wang, J. (2020). Microplastic pollution in vegetable farmlands of suburb Wuhan, central China. Environmental Pollution, 257, 113449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113449. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113449

Fuller, S.; Gautam, A. (2016). A Procedure for Measuring Microplastics using Pressurized Fluid Extraction. Environmental Science & Technology, 50, 5774–5780. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b00816. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b00816

Leslie, H.A.; Brandsma, S.H.; van Velzen, M.J.M.; Vethaak, A.D. (2017). Microplastics en route: Field measurements in the Dutch river delta and Amsterdam canals, wastewater treatment plants, North Sea sediments and biota. Environment International, 101, 133–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2017.01.018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2017.01.018

Yin, K.; Wang, D.; Zhao, H.; Wang, Y.; Guo, M.; Liu, Y.; Li, B.; Xing, M. (2021). Microplastics pollution and risk assessment in water bodies of two nature reserves in Jilin Province: Correlation analysis with the degree of human activity. Science of The Total Environment, 799, 149390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149390. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149390

Tang, K.H.D. (2021). Interactions of Microplastics with Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Ecotoxicological Effects: A Review. Tropical Aquatic and Soil Pollution, 1, 24–34. http://doi.org/10.53623/tasp.v1i1.11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53623/tasp.v1i1.11

Li, C.; Tang, K.H.D. (2023). Effects of pH and Temperature on the Leaching of Di (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate and Di-n-butyl Phthalate from Microplastics in Simulated Marine Environment. Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry, 13, 269. https://doi.org/10.33263/BRIAC133.269. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33263/BRIAC133.269

Hodson, M.E.; Duffus-Hodson, C.A.; Clark, A.; Prendergast-Miller, M.T.; Thorpe, K.L. (2017). Plastic Bag Derived-Microplastics as a Vector for Metal Exposure in Terrestrial Invertebrates. Environmental Science & Technology, 51, 4714–4721. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b00635. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b00635

Lee, A.; Mondon, J.; Merenda, A.; Dumée, L.F.; Callahan, D.L. (2021). Surface adsorption of metallic species onto microplastics with long-term exposure to the natural marine environment. Science of The Total Environment, 780, 146613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146613. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146613

Tang, K.H.D. (2020). Ecotoxicological Impacts of Micro and Nanoplastics on Marine. Examines in Marine Biology and Oceanography, 3, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.31031/EIMBO.2020.03.000563. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31031/EIMBO.2020.03.000563

Guo, J.-J.; Huang, X.-P.; Xiang, L.; Wang, Y.-Z.; Li, Y.-W.; Li, H.; Cai, Q.-Y.; Mo, C.-H.; Wong, M.-H. (2020). Source, migration and toxicology of microplastics in soil. Environment International, 137, 105263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105263. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105263

Kim, S.W.; An, Y.-J. (2020). Edible size of polyethylene microplastics and their effects on springtail behavior. Environmental Pollution, 266, 115255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115255. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115255

Rodriguez-Seijo, A.; Lourenço, J.; Rocha-Santos, T.A.P.; da Costa, J.; Duarte, A.C.; Vala, H.; Pereira, R. (2017). Histopathological and molecular effects of microplastics in Eisenia andrei Bouché. Environmental Pollution, 220, 495–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.09.092. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.09.092

Xiang, Y.; Jiang, L.; Zhou, Y.; Luo, Z.; Zhi, D.; Yang, J.; Lam, S.S. (2022). Microplastics and environmental pollutants: Key interaction and toxicology in aquatic and soil environments. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 422, 126843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126843. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126843

Zurier, H.S.; Goddard, J.M. (2020). Biodegradation of microplastics in food and agriculture. Current Opinion in Food Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2020.09.001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2020.09.001

Tang, K.H.D. (2022). Abundance of Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Sludge. Journal of Human, Earth, and Future, 3, 138–146. https://doi.org/10.28991/HEF-2022-03-01-010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.28991/HEF-2022-03-01-010

Mohajerani, A.; Karabatak, B. (2020). Microplastics and pollutants in biosolids have contaminated agricultural soils: An analytical study and a proposal to cease the use of biosolids in farmlands and utilise them in sustainable bricks. Waste Management, 107, 252–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.04.021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.04.021

Tang, K.H.D.; Hadibarata, T. (2022). The application of bioremediation in wastewater treatment plants for microplastics removal: a practical perspective. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 45, 1865–1878. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-022-02793-x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-022-02793-x

Crossman, J.; Hurley, R.R.; Futter, M.; Nizzetto, L. (2020). Transfer and transport of microplastics from biosolids to agricultural soils and the wider environment. Science of The Total Environment, 724, 138334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138334. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138334

Huang, Y.; Qing, X.; Wang, W.; Han, G.; Wang, J. (2020). Mini-review on current studies of airborne microplastics: Analytical methods, occurrence, sources, fate and potential risk to human beings. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 125, 115821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2020.115821. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2020.115821

Chai, B.; Wei, Q.; She, Y.; Lu, G.; Dang, Z.; Yin, H. (2020). Soil microplastic pollution in an e-waste dismantling zone of China. Waste Management, 118, 291–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.08.048. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.08.048

Corradini, F.; Casado, F.; Leiva, V.; Huerta-Lwanga, E.; Geissen, V. (2021). Microplastics occurrence and frequency in soils under different land uses on a regional scale. Science of The Total Environment, 752, 141917. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141917. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141917

Jiang, C.; Yin, L.; Li, Z.; Wen, X.; Luo, X.; Hu, S.; Yang, H.; Long, Y.; Deng, B.; Huang, L.; Liu, Y. (2019). Microplastic pollution in the rivers of the Tibet Plateau. Environmental Pollution, 249, 91–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.022

Zhou, B.; Wang, J.; Zhang, H.; Shi, H.; Fei, Y.; Huang, S.; Tong, Y.; Wen, D.; Luo, Y.; Barceló, D. (2020). Microplastics in agricultural soils on the coastal plain of Hangzhou Bay, east China: Multiple sources other than plastic mulching film. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 388, 121814. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121814. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121814

Han, L.; Li, Q.; Xu, L.; Lu, A.; Li, B.; Gong, W.; Tian, J. (2020). Abundance and distribution of microplastics of soils in Daliao River basin. Asian Journal of Ecotoxicology, 1, 174–185. http://doi.org/10.7524/AJE.1673-5897.20190911003.

Scheurer, M.; Bigalke, M. (2018). Microplastics in Swiss Floodplain Soils. Environmental Science & Technology, 52, 3591–3598. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b06003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b06003

Rios Mendoza, L.M.; Leon Vargas, D.; Balcer, M. (2021). Microplastics occurrence and fate in the environment. Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 32, 100523. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COGSC.2021.100523. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogsc.2021.100523

Tang, K.H.D. (2019). Are We Already in a Climate Crisis? Global Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1, 25–32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36811/gjcee.2019.110005

Yu, L.; Zhang, J.; Liu, Y.; Chen, L.; Tao, S.; Liu, W. (2021). Distribution characteristics of microplastics in agricultural soils from the largest vegetable production base in China. Science of The Total Environment, 756, 143860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143860. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143860

Zhang, G.S.; Liu, Y.F. (2018). The distribution of microplastics in soil aggregate fractions in southwestern China. Science of The Total Environment, 642, 12–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.004

Amrutha, K.; Warrier, A.K. (2020). The first report on the source-to-sink characterization of microplastic pollution from a riverine environment in tropical India. Science of The Total Environment, 739, 140377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140377. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140377

Ding, L.; Zhang, S.; Wang, X.; Yang, X.; Zhang, C.; Qi, Y.; Guo, X. (2020). The occurrence and distribution characteristics of microplastics in the agricultural soils of Shaanxi Province, in north-western China. Science of The Total Environment, 720, 137525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137525. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137525

Zhou, Q.; Zhang, H.; Fu, C.; Zhou, Y.; Dai, Z.; Li, Y.; Tu, C.; Luo, Y. (2018). The distribution and morphology of microplastics in coastal soils adjacent to the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea. Geoderma, 322, 201–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.02.015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.02.015

Piehl, S.; Leibner, A.; Löder, M.G.J.; Dris, R.; Bogner, C.; Laforsch, C. (2018). Identification and quantification of macro- and microplastics on an agricultural farmland. Scientific Reports, 8, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36172-y. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36172-y

Ghatge, S.; Yang, Y.; Ahn, J.-H.; Hur, H.-G. (2020). Biodegradation of polyethylene: a brief review. Applied Biological Chemistry, 63, 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13765-020-00511-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13765-020-00511-3

Sait, S.T.L.; Sørensen, L.; Kubowicz, S.; Vike-Jonas, K.; Gonzalez, S.V.; Asimakopoulos, A.G.; Booth, A.M. (2021). Microplastic fibres from synthetic textiles: Environmental degradation and additive chemical content. Environmental Pollution, 268, 115745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115745. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115745

Read Full-Text
About this article

SUBMITTED: 13 November 2022
ACCEPTED: 02 January 2023
PUBLISHED: 5 January 2023
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 50 days
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53623/tasp.v3i1.152

Cite this article
Tang, K. H. D., & Luo, Y. . (2023). Abundance and Characteristics of Microplastics in the Soil of a Higher Education Institution in China. Tropical Aquatic and Soil Pollution, 3(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.53623/tasp.v3i1.152
Keywords
abundance concentration particle size human activities polyethylene residential
Accessed
1424
Citations
0
Share this article