Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Peer-reviewed

Microplastics Increase Soil pH and Decrease Microbial Activities as a Function of Microplastic Shape, Polymer Type, and Exposure Time

Tingting Zhao; Yudi M. Lozano; Matthias C. Rillig

Frontiers in Environmental Science · 2021

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Summary

Microplastic pollution is a topic of increasing concern, especially since this issue was first addressed in soils. Results have so far been variable in terms of effects, suggesting that there is substantial context-dependency in microplastic effects in soil. To better define conditions that may affect microplastic-related impacts, we here examined effects as a function of microplastic shape and polymer type, and we tested if effects on soil properties and soil microbial activities change with incubation time. In our laboratory study, we evaluated twelve different secondary microplastics representing four microplastic shapes: fibers, films, foams and fragments; and eight polymer types: polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polyester (PES), polyethylene terephthalate (PET),

Source type
Peer-reviewed study
DOI
10.3389/fenvs.2021.675803
Catalogue ID
NRmo9rin9c-0m5
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