College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Environ Monit Assess. 2020 Oct 3;192(11):671. doi: 10.1007/s10661-020-08641-3.
Plastic pollution is an emerging issue faced worldwide owing to rapid urbanization and extensive use of plastic products. The objective of this study was to determine and highlight the spatial distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the top soils of different land use types of an urbanized city, i.e., Lahore, Pakistan, influenced by different human activities. Soil samples (n = 40) were collected from eight different land use groups including agricultural areas, drains, dumping sites, industrial areas, lawns, parks, roadsides, and wastelands to represent the influence of corresponding human actions. After cleaning the samples through wet peroxide digestion and density separation, MPs were identified under a stereomicroscope. The range of MPs in top soils within Lahore district varied from 1750 to 12,200 MPs/kg with an average of 4483 ± 2315 MPs/kg. The highest concentration of MPs was present in the parks while the lowest numbers of MPs were enumerated in soil from dumping sites. About 99% of the identified MPs particles were fibers, sheets, and fragments in shape while foams and beads accounted for the rest. Moreover, among the size ranges, the large size MPs (300-5000 μm) were found in the majority (41.16%) followed by the fine size MPs (50-150 μm; 30.67%) and medium size MPs (150-300 μm; 28.17%). The current level of MPs pollution attracts the attention of researchers for a more comprehensive investigation in the future. It also incites the policy-makers to implement the regulations to prevent plastic pollution and its environmental implications.
塑料污染是一个全球性的新兴问题，其产生原因是城市化进程的加速和塑料制品的广泛使用。本研究旨在确定和强调微塑料（MPs）在巴基斯坦拉合尔市不同土地利用类型的表层土壤中的空间分布，这些土地利用类型受到不同人类活动的影响。从农业区、排水渠、倾倒场、工业区、草坪、公园、道路旁和荒地等 8 个不同的土地利用组中采集了 40 个土壤样本，以代表相应人类活动的影响。在通过湿过氧化物消化和密度分离对样品进行清洁后，在立体显微镜下识别 MPs。拉合尔地区表层土壤中 MPs 的范围从 1750 到 12200 MPs/kg，平均值为 4483 ± 2315 MPs/kg。公园中 MPs 的浓度最高，而倾倒场中的土壤中 MPs 的数量最少。所识别的 MPs 颗粒中，99%以上为纤维、薄片和碎片形状，其余为泡沫和珠粒。此外，在所研究的尺寸范围内，大尺寸 MPs（300-5000 μm）占大多数（41.16%），其次是小尺寸 MPs（50-150 μm；30.67%）和中尺寸 MPs（150-300 μm；28.17%）。目前的 MPs 污染水平引起了研究人员的关注，未来需要进行更全面的调查。这也促使政策制定者实施法规，以防止塑料污染及其对环境的影响。
