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Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils
Published on: March 21, 2025
Occurrence and ecological risk of microplastics in soils and sediments in the Inner Mongolian Yellow River Basin: An
Mao Wang1, Ruikun Wang1, Ruiqing Zhang2
1College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Soil Quality and Nutrient Resource, Hohhot 010018, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Ecological Security and Green Development at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010018, China.
Abstract:
Microplastics (MPs) pollution in the Inner Mongolian Yellow River Basin (IMYRB) of China was investigated through 34 soil/sediment samples. The results showed MPs were widely distributed in the region, with a total mean abundance of 5503 ± 1502 n/kg dry weight (dw) in soils and 2059 ± 1188 n/kg dw in sediments. MPs were predominantly 1-2 mm transparent fibers, composed mainly of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE). Spatial analysis revealed the highest MP abundance in soils of Baotou (6108 n/kg dw) and peak MPs contamination in sediments near Hohhot (2543 n/kg dw). By functional zones, sewage outlets (6133 n/kg dw) and industrial areas (5800 n/kg dw) were major sinks for soil MPs, while wetland fishponds contained the highest sediment MPs (2533 n/kg dw). Agricultural soils dominated by film-shaped MPs (>23 %), industrial areas by fragments, and wetland fishponds by fibers. Polymer composition varied, with elevated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in industrial soils, and higher polystyrene (PS) content in wetland sediments. Ecological risk assessment indicated ultrahigh risk in industrial soils and medium risk in wetland sediments, primarily due to toxic PVC/PMMA. These findings provide essential baseline data for ecological risk control of MPs across river basin in northern China.
