Study on Countermeasures for Prevention and Control of Microplastic Pollution in Soil

Plastic pollution is an emerging global environmental issue and public focal concern. Microplastic materials are derived mainly from the continuous degradation and fragmentation of large plastic materials and pose a risk to the receiving environments, especially to soil. The present study investigated the challenges from microplastic pollution, and recommendations for the processes on controlling microplastic pollution and their management in China are put forward. These include the development of standardized methods for monitoring microplastics in soil; inclusive of microplastics into soil environmental quality standards; improvement in the recovery of agricultural plastic wastes; improvement of the efficacy of waste treatment; and encouraging scientific and technological innovation. Of course, it is a priority to manage the main sources of microplastic pollution to reduce harm to the health of the soil. All of these are expected to provide constructive ideas for the prevention and controlling of microplastic contamination in China.