Impact of Different Microplastics on Soil Evaporation Rates: A Comparative Analysis Across Chernozem, Umbrisol, and Luvisol

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of microplastics (MPs) as significant emerging pollutants. Soil contamination by MPs, comprising plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, originates from diverse sources. The introduction of foreign substances such as MPs can instantly modify the physical properties of soil or influence soil processes, depending upon the characteristics of the plastic. The limited available studies provide evidence that insufficient attention is being paid to the impact of plastic input on soil evaporation processes. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of contamination of three types of soil (Chernozem, Umbrisol, and Luvisol) with different MPs (high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene) at a concentration of 5% (w/w) on the evaporative mass loss. The presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polystyrene (PS) significantly altered evaporative soil loss, dry bulk density, and saturated water content in different soil types. Evaporative mass loss significantly increased in Luvisol and Umbrisol soils contaminated with HDPE and in Umbrisol contaminated with PVC. In Chernozem, contamination with all examined MPs significantly reduced dry bulk density. A similar decrease in dry bulk density was observed in Luvisol and Umbrisol with PVC and HDPE. Significant reductions in saturated water content were recorded in Chernozem contaminated with HDPE, Luvisol with PS, and Umbrisol with both HDPE and PS.