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Microbial biodegradation of synthetic microfibres for the sustainable application of biosolids: a review
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When treated sewage sludge (called biosolids) is used as fertilizer on farmland, it also spreads tiny plastic fibers from our clothes—like polyester and nylon—into the soil, which can eventually affect human and animal health. This review rounds up existing research on naturally occurring microbes (found in soil, water, and even landfills) that can break down these plastics, suggesting they could someday help clean up biosolids before they're used on farms. The findings aren't a ready-made solution yet, but they point to a promising, more natural way to reduce microplastic pollution in our food-growing soil.
Abstract Wastewater treatment allows for water reuse and recycling yet produces waste by-products such as biosolids which require sustainable management. Biosolids have been repurposed for soil nutrient amendment in agricultural and land rehabilitation settings. However, biosolids contain microplastics and other micropollutants which negatively affect soil, animal, and human health and contaminate surrounding environments. The most prevalent microplastics in biosolids are synthetic microfibres made from polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and nylon that are released during clothes laundering and become concentrated in sewage sludges and biosolids during wastewater treatment. Microbes isolated from various environments, including plastic waste dumping sites, garbage dumps, soils, bodies of water, and marine environments, have demonstrated the ability to degrade polyester, PET and nylon, making them promising candidates for the biodegradation of these materials. This review discusses current literature on the microplastics and microbes present in biosolids, along with microbes documented to degrade plastics that are used in microfibre production. Additionally, recommendations are made to explore biosolids-associated microbes for microplastics biodegradation, aiming to minimise soil microplastic contamination to ensure the sustainable application of biosolids as well as alternative uses for biosolids. Graphical Abstract
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Evidence for polyester microplastic degradation following alkali stabilization of biosolids
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Sewage sludge (called "biosolids") is often treated with strong alkaline chemicals and then spread on farmland as fertilizer, but this sludge is also full of tiny plastic fibers from clothing and other polyester products. This study found that the alkaline treatment process actually breaks down some of these polyester microplastics, which is good news because it means fewer plastic particles may end up in soil, crops, and eventually our food and water supply.
Risk of re-release of microplastics from sewage fertilisers into the environment
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This paper reviews the risk that microplastics in sewage sludge (biosolids used as agricultural fertilizer) will be re-released into soils and water when the sludge is land-applied. Microplastics from cosmetics and clothing fibers concentrate in sludge during wastewater treatment and persist because they resist biodegradation. Applying microplastic-contaminated biosolids to farmland is one of the major pathways through which microplastics enter agricultural soils.
Microfibres and Microfragments in Sewage Sludge
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Sewage sludge, the leftover solid waste from treating wastewater, is often used as fertilizer on farms, but this review of over 150 studies confirms it's packed with tiny plastic bits, mostly fibers and fragments from common plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene. That matters because when this sludge is spread on farmland, these microplastics can end up in soil, potentially working their way into crops and water supplies. The review also notes that scientists don't yet agree on standard testing methods, making it hard to compare results across studies, though newer AI-based tools may help speed up and improve detection in the future.
Biosolid amendments as drivers for microplastic pollution in soil: Measurements and insight from multiple analytical methods in an agricultural field study
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Farms sometimes spread "biosolids" (treated sewage sludge) on fields as fertilizer, and this study measured microplastic particles in soil that had received these applications over a decade compared to untreated farmland. Using detailed chemical testing, researchers confirmed that soil treated with sludge contained identifiable plastic contamination, supporting concerns that this common farming practice can be a source of microplastics building up in agricultural land. Since these plastics can end up in the crops we eat and potentially in our food and water supply, understanding where they come from is an important step toward reducing our overall exposure.
Microfibres and Microfragments in Sewage Sludge
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This review paper looked at over 150 studies to understand how tiny plastic bits called microplastics build up in sewage sludge, the leftover solid material from treating wastewater, which is often used as fertilizer on farms. The main takeaway is that scientists still don't have a standard way to measure these microplastics, making it hard to know exactly how much ends up in our soil, crops, and eventually our food supply. This matters because if sludge is regularly spread on farmland without consistent testing methods, we may be unknowingly introducing plastic particles into the food chain without a clear picture of the risk.
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