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Environmental potential risk of microplastic pollution due to agricultural plastics: a case study in Apulia region
Summary
Researchers assessed the environmental risk of microplastic pollution from agricultural plastic waste in the Apulia region of Italy, examining how the breakdown of agricultural plastics at end-of-life contributes to soil and ecosystem contamination.
The use of plastic products has brought significant benefits to agricultural activities. It led to the production of huge amounts of agricultural plastic waste (APW), contributing to environmental pollution. A major challenge is the effective management of agricultural plastics, particularly at the end of their useful life. A serious and increasingly concerning issue is that these plastics are a potential source of microplastics (MPs) release into the soil. This study points out environmental potential risks of MPs based on a territorial analysis, supported by a Geographic Information System. An agricultural area in the Apulia region (Italy) composed by four municipalities was considered as a case study. Different agricultural uses were identified through land use maps. These, combined with plastic waste indices developed specifically for each crop and plastic application, allowed for the APW estimation and georeferencing. Further efforts were made to qualitatively assess patterns of MPs contamination from agricultural plastics using risk indices present in literature. The study found that while the area is dominated by olive groves, this crop is not the main contributor to APW production. Orchards were identified as the most significant contributors due to the combination of area covered and a high plastic waste index. Orchards account for 60% of the approximately 11,000 tons of APW produced annually in the whole area. Based on this result and on the scientific literature, a qualitative risk map of MPs pollution from agricultural plastics was developed as well. Orchards are the main cause of pollution due to their broad distribution and high risk index. The study could be useful in drawing attention and promoting effective actions toward the sustainable management of APW and MPs. The potential risk maps could contribute to public awareness and perceptions on the impact of microplastics due to the use of plastic in agriculture.
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