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Microplastics and hydrocarbons in soils: Quantification as an anthropic carbon source
Victor N Aquino1,2, Florencia E Plaul1,2, Anabel D Sanchez2
1Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
|October 3, 2022
Summary
Microplastics (MPs) are found in soils and can be mistaken for organic carbon. This study quantified MPs in a wetland soil, finding they contribute significantly to soil carbon, similar to hydrocarbons.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Soil Science
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Literature on microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial ecosystems is limited.
- Soil organic carbon (SOC) quantification methods may misidentify MPs.
- Understanding MP contribution to soil carbon is crucial for ecosystem assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the carbon (C) contribution of MPs to SOC in a coastal urban wetland.
- To compare the C contribution of MPs with that of hydrocarbons.
- To highlight the importance of differentiating MPs from other carbon sources in soil.
Main Methods:
- Soil samples analyzed for moisture, texture, organic matter (Loss on Ignition), total hydrocarbons (THCs), n-alkanes, and MP extraction (flotation, filtration, H2O2 digestion, visual sorting).
- Quantification of MPs using stereomicroscopy.
- Calculation of C contribution from THCs and MPs.
Main Results:
- Soil characterized as sandy clay loam with high organic matter (19%-30%).
- Average MP concentration was 587 ± 277 items/kg dry soil, predominantly fibers.
- MPs contributed 0.10-0.97 ton C/ha, representing 0.12%-1.25% of soil carbon, comparable to THCs (0.6%-4.2%).
Conclusions:
- Microplastics represent a notable, yet often overlooked, component of soil carbon in this wetland ecosystem.
- Accurate soil carbon assessment requires methods that distinguish MPs from natural organic matter.
- This research provides foundational data for decision-making regarding MP pollution in soils.
