Abstract
The development of transportation infrastructure can stimulate economic growth. However, the environmental and human health risks associated with the release of traffic-derived microplastics (MPs) into the ecosystem must also be considered. This study examined four types of soil samples collected from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau along the Gemang Highway. The abundance, size, morphology, and types of MPs were analyzed using laser direct infrared (LDIR) spectroscopy to gain a better understanding of their distribution and characteristics. The average abundance of MPs in the study area was 2,247.92 ± 2,053.82n/kg. It showed the characteristics of wasteland (4,726.67 ± 2956.76n/kg) > wolfberry plantation (3,294.44 ± 2,881.93n/kg) > sandy land (1,519.44 ± 282.65n/kg) > soil along the highway (1,144.44 ± 611.01n/kg). 67.25% of MPs had a particle size of less than 100 μm, posing greater environmental risks. The 6 factors identified by the PMF model suggested a variety of potential sources of MPs and highlighted their connections to the transportation sector. The ecological risk assessment of MPs demonstrated a significant degree of risk, with particular concern regarding more toxic plastics use. This study provides fundamental data for the source analysis and ecosystem risk assessment of MPs derived traffic.
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