JOURNAL ARTICLE

Microplastics and hydrocarbons in soils: Quantification as an anthropic carbon source.

  • Published In: Integrated Environmental Assessment & Management, 2023, v. 19, n. 3. P. 698 1 of 3

  • Database: Environment Complete 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Aquino, Victor N.; Plaul, Florencia E.; Sanchez, Anabel D.; Villagra, Sebastian; Cappelletti, Natalia E. 3 of 3

Abstract

This article focuses on quantifying the contribution of microplastics (MPs) to soil organic carbon (SOC) in the topsoil of a coastal urban wetland reserve with humid subtropical forest characteristics in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The study found that MPs, predominantly fibers, accounted for between 0.12% and 1.25% of the total estimated soil carbon, a magnitude comparable to the carbon contribution from total hydrocarbons (THCs). The research highlights that MPs can be detected as carbon by traditional SOC measurement methods, potentially leading to overestimations, and emphasizes the importance of distinguishing MPs from natural organic matter in soil carbon assessments. Given the resistance of MPs to decomposition and their potential to accumulate, the study suggests that MPs should be considered in evaluations of soil carbon storage and ecosystem functioning.

Additional Information

  • Source:Integrated Environmental Assessment & Management. 2023/05, Vol. 19, Issue 3, p698
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Environmental Sciences
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:1551-3777
  • DOI:10.1002/ieam.4694
  • Accession Number:163310239
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