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Seasonal Variation of Microplastic Contamination in Landfill Leachate, River Water, and Soil During Premonsoon and Monsoon: First Evidence From Landfill Sites in Nepal.
Summary
Researchers studying landfills in Nepal found that tiny plastic bits (microplastics) leak into nearby rivers and farm soil, getting worse the further downstream you go and increasing during monsoon season. Most of these plastic particles came from synthetic textiles and degraded packaging, meaning the water used for crops and drinking, and the soil growing our food, could be picking up plastic contamination that eventually makes its way into what we eat and drink. The findings highlight why better landfill waste management and leachate (the liquid that drains from trash) treatment matter for protecting both local ecosystems and long-term food and water safety.
Landfills serve as a significant source of microplastics (MPs) contamination, affecting the surrounding air, water, and agricultural soils. This study examined the seasonal variation of MPs in leachate, river water, and soil at Sisdole (old) and Banchare Dada (new) landfill sites (LFSs). MPs greater than 90 μm were enumerated using a stereomicroscope, and polymer identification was performed on a representative subset of particles using micro-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Average MPs concentrations were higher at the new landfill, with values of 56 ± 07 MPs/L at Banchare Field and 44 ± 27 MPs/L at Banchare Tank, compared to 28 ± 11 MPs/L at Sisdole Pond in the old landfill. In river water, MPs increased downstream: 17 ± 12 MPs/L at Sisdole Upstream, 28 ± 22 MPs/L at Sisdole Downstream, and 34 ± 06 MPs/L at Banchare Downstream. Soil contamination was highest at Sisdole (351 ± 173 MPs/100 g), followed by Banchare (214 ± 70 MPs/100 g) and Banchare-Sisdole (157 ± 48 MPs/100 g). Statistical analyses, including a paired -test for river water and a two-way ANOVA for soil samples, showed significant differences in MPs concentrations between the monsoon and premonsoon seasons in both river water and soil. Fibers were the dominant form of MPs in leachate, river water, and soil, whereas fragments were mainly within the 90-500 μm size range and fibers within the 1000-5000 μm range. Polyethylene terephthalate/polyester (PET/PES) accounted for 50% of the identified polymers, followed by polypropylene (PP, 20%), polyethylene (PE, 10%), and other polymers (20%). The polymeric composition suggests that textiles and degraded plastic packaging are the possible sources of MPs. Overall, the study identifies landfill-derived MPs as a possible source of pollution in nearby river and agricultural lands, underscoring the urgent need for measures, such as leachate treatment and improved landfill management practices by the relevant authorities.