Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Environmental factors influence airborne microplastic deposition in the soil of urban allotment gardens

Amato-Lourenço, Luis ; Bertoldi, Crislaine LU orcid ; van Praagh, Martijn LU and Rillig, Matthias (2025) In Environmental Pollution 375.
Abstract
The widespread contamination of urban soils by airborne microplastics (MPs) is an emerging environmental issue, particularly in urban allotment gardens with home-grown food. This study investigates the vertical distribution of MP in three such gardens in Berlin, Germany, over 90 days. Soil samples were collected at three depths (0-1 cm, 1–15 cm, and 15–30 cm) and analyzed for MP composition and occurrence. Results showed that fibers were the dominant morphology of MPs, with the highest occurrence found in surface layers (0-1 cm). MPs amount decreased with soil depth, and fibers showed limited vertical penetration. We also identified 19 different polymer using Optical PhotoThermal InfraRed (OPTIR) spectroscopy, with polyethylene... (More)
The widespread contamination of urban soils by airborne microplastics (MPs) is an emerging environmental issue, particularly in urban allotment gardens with home-grown food. This study investigates the vertical distribution of MP in three such gardens in Berlin, Germany, over 90 days. Soil samples were collected at three depths (0-1 cm, 1–15 cm, and 15–30 cm) and analyzed for MP composition and occurrence. Results showed that fibers were the dominant morphology of MPs, with the highest occurrence found in surface layers (0-1 cm). MPs amount decreased with soil depth, and fibers showed limited vertical penetration. We also identified 19 different polymer using Optical PhotoThermal InfraRed (OPTIR) spectroscopy, with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester (PES), and polyethylene (PE) being the most frequent. Temporal variation in MP deposition was observed, with a significant peak at 90 days. Environmental factors, including PM2.5 concentration, precipitation, and wind velocity, played a role in MP deposition. Increased precipitation and concentration of PM2.5 explained increased MP deposition, while wind velocity was negatively correlated to MP deposition. These findings highlight the pervasive presence of MPs in urban soils and suggest that environmental conditions significantly influence MP distribution. Understanding these dynamics is essential for assessing the long-term ecological impacts of MPs on soil health in urban environments. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Environmental Pollution
volume
375
article number
126372
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:40334732
ISSN
1873-6424
DOI
10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126372
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c4acbcb6-0be0-4dcf-a67e-f20ac6f42ed8
date added to LUP
2025-05-06 11:40:50
date last changed
2025-05-14 03:35:21
@article{c4acbcb6-0be0-4dcf-a67e-f20ac6f42ed8,
  abstract     = {{The widespread contamination of urban soils by airborne microplastics (MPs) is an emerging environmental issue, particularly in urban allotment gardens with home-grown food. This study investigates the vertical distribution of MP in three such gardens in Berlin, Germany, over 90 days. Soil samples were collected at three depths (0-1 cm, 1–15 cm, and 15–30 cm) and analyzed for MP composition and occurrence. Results showed that fibers were the dominant morphology of MPs, with the highest occurrence found in surface layers (0-1 cm). MPs amount decreased with soil depth, and fibers showed limited vertical penetration. We also identified 19 different polymer using Optical PhotoThermal InfraRed (OPTIR) spectroscopy, with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester (PES), and polyethylene (PE) being the most frequent. Temporal variation in MP deposition was observed, with a significant peak at 90 days. Environmental factors, including PM2.5 concentration, precipitation, and wind velocity, played a role in MP deposition. Increased precipitation and concentration of PM2.5 explained increased MP deposition, while wind velocity was negatively correlated to MP deposition. These findings highlight the pervasive presence of MPs in urban soils and suggest that environmental conditions significantly influence MP distribution. Understanding these dynamics is essential for assessing the long-term ecological impacts of MPs on soil health in urban environments.}},
  author       = {{Amato-Lourenço, Luis and Bertoldi, Crislaine and van Praagh, Martijn and Rillig, Matthias}},
  issn         = {{1873-6424}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Environmental Pollution}},
  title        = {{Environmental factors influence airborne microplastic deposition in the soil of urban allotment gardens}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126372}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126372}},
  volume       = {{375}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}