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Updated: Dec 11, 2025
Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils
Published on: March 21, 2025
Microplastics in waters and soils: Occurrence, analytical methods and ecotoxicological effects
Mengjie Wu1, Chunping Yang2, Cheng Du3
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Pollution Processes and Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming, Guangdong, 525000, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China.
Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in freshwater and soil environments. This review covers their occurrence, analysis, and ecotoxicological impacts on ecosystems and human health, highlighting research gaps.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecotoxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) are prevalent environmental contaminants, with marine environments receiving more attention than freshwater and soil ecosystems.
- Understanding MP presence and effects in non-marine environments is crucial for a comprehensive ecological assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the occurrence, analytical methods, and ecotoxicological effects of microplastics in freshwater and soil environments.
- To highlight the potential risks of MPs to environmental health and human well-being.
Main Methods:
- Summarized MP abundance and distribution in Chinese freshwater systems.
- Reviewed common sampling (net-based zooplankton) and pretreatment (density separation, elutriation, digestion) methods.
- Identified analytical techniques (FTIR, Raman, Py-GC/MS) for polymer identification.
Main Results:
- Poyang Lake showed the highest MP concentration (34 items/L) among studied freshwater systems.
- MP concentrations were higher in sediments than in surface waters.
- MPs can negatively impact organismal health, including growth, feeding, and reproduction.
Conclusions:
- Microplastics pose ecotoxicological risks to aquatic organisms and potentially to human health through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the human health risks associated with microplastic exposure.
- This review provides a framework for future research on microplastics in freshwater and soil ecosystems.
