Microplastics pollution in agricultural farms soils: preliminary findings from tropical environment (klang valley, malaysia)

• Main Authors: Praveena, Sarva Mangala, Ishak Hisham, Muhammad Aiman Fahim, Nafisyah, Ayu Lana
• Format: Article
• Published: Springer Nature 2023
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/110058/; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-023-11250-5?error=cookies_not_supported&code=1d6533fc-c131-46ba-a71a-d133eb173b3e

The aim of this research is to investigate the occurrence, characteristics, and potential sources of microplastic pollution at four agricultural farms in Malaysia’s tropical region of Klang Valley. The mean number of microplastic particles found in the agricultural soils were 2.1±0.44 to 3.4±1.2 particles/ kg. Farms B and D had the lowest and highest total microplastic particle counts, 1.5 and 6.0 particles/ kg, respectively, which was in line with the intensity of plastic consumption at these farms. Microplastics particle sizes ranged from 16.7 to 1.246 µm, attributed to their extensive breakdown processes. The microplastic particle shapes (flm, fber, and fragment) and colors (black, white, red, and blue) from the soil samples refected the type of plastic products used and unmanaged plastic waste at these farms. Plastic nets, mulching flms, and unmanaged plastics waste constituted the major microplastics sources at these farms. Our fndings confrm microplastic pollution in tropical agricultural soils as well as the need to assess the negative efects of long-term plastic use on agricultural soils.