A Review of Analytical Methods for Microplastics in Soils

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs), as an emerging environmental pollutant, pose a potential threat to ecosystems and human health, and the study of their analytical methods has become particularly important. In this paper, the current research progress of analytical methods for MPs in soil is reviewed. The sources, ecological impacts and possible health risks of MPs are introduced, and the urgency of accurate detection and quantitative analysis of MPs is emphasized. Subsequently, MPs’ analytical methods based on different principles, including visual analysis, chemical analysis, spectroscopic techniques, microscopic observation, and mass spectrometry, are systematically outlined in response to the wide range of sample sources and wide particle size distribution of MPs. For each method, the advantages, limitations and scope of application are highlighted and evaluated, and the directions and development trends for future improvement are proposed. The review of this paper is expected to promote the continuous improvement and innovation of MPs analytical methods and provide more effective technical support and scientific basis for solving the MPs’ pollution problems.