Summary
This 2019 study investigated microplastic contamination in agricultural soils of the Hangzhou Bay region in east China, demonstrating that whilst plastic mulching film is often implicated in such pollution, multiple other anthropogenic sources contribute significantly to soil microplastic burden. The authors used polymer characterisation and source analysis to identify and quantify these pathways, as suggested by the title's emphasis on sources 'other than plastic mulching film'.
UK applicability
The UK's cooler climate and lower reliance on plastic mulching film in certain crop systems may result in different microplastic source profiles, though atmospheric deposition and wastewater-derived pathways identified in Chinese agriculture are also relevant to UK farming. UK-specific research would be needed to determine the relative contribution of different sources in British agricultural soils.
Key measures
Microplastic concentration (by particle count and/or mass), polymer type identification, source attribution analysis
Outcomes reported
The study quantified microplastic concentrations and characterised their sources in agricultural soils on the Hangzhou Bay coastal plain, finding that plastic mulching film, whilst a contributor, was not the sole or primary source of contamination.
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