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Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils

Published on: March 21, 2025

Microplastics in Swiss Floodplain Soils.

Michael Scheurer¹, Moritz Bigalke¹

¹Institute of Geography , University of Bern , Hallerstrasse 12 , 3012 Berne , Switzerland.

Environmental Science & Technology

|February 16, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Microplastics contaminate most Swiss floodplain soils, with higher concentrations linked to larger plastic waste and nearby populations. Small microplastics (<500 μm) dominate, suggesting widespread atmospheric transport as a key entry route.

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Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Soil Science
Ecotoxicology

Background:

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants, posing significant threats to aquatic ecosystems.
The presence, concentration, and fate of MPs in terrestrial environments, particularly soils, remain poorly understood despite increasing global plastic production.
Floodplain soils represent a critical interface for understanding MP transport and accumulation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in Swiss floodplain soils.
To develop and apply a method for identifying, quantifying, and sizing microplastics in soil samples.
To explore potential sources and transport pathways of microplastics into terrestrial ecosystems.

Main Methods:

Development of a FT-IR microscopy-based method for MP analysis in soil.
Implementation of density separation and organic matter oxidation for small MP (<1 mm) isolation.
Analysis of 29 floodplain soil samples across Swiss nature reserves, covering 53% of Switzerland.

Main Results:

Microplastics were detected in 90% of the analyzed Swiss floodplain soils.
Higher MP concentrations correlated with the presence of mesoplastics and proximity to population centers, suggesting plastic waste as a source.
Small MPs (<500 μm) were dominant, and their widespread distribution, even in remote areas, points to diffuse aeolian transport.

Conclusions:

Swiss floodplain soils are widely contaminated with microplastics.
Plastic waste and population density are significant factors influencing MP concentrations in soils.
Aeolian (wind-driven) transport is a crucial pathway for the widespread distribution of microplastics into terrestrial environments.