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Presence of Microplastics in Water, Soil, Organic Fertilizer, and Potato Plants on Potato Plantations
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Researchers surveyed potato farms and found microplastics present in the irrigation water, soil, organic fertilizer, and even the potato plants themselves. Fibers were the most common shape, making up 86% of particles found, with PET and polyethylene being the dominant plastic types. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination in agricultural systems could affect both crop quality and human health through the food chain.
ABSTRACT Microplastics (MPs) have become a significant environmental concern, but data on their presence in potato gardens are limited. This study aims to identify and quantify MPs in soil, organic fertilizer, irrigation water, and potato plants in potato gardens. Soil, fertilizer, irrigation water, and potato samples were collected from potato fields. Analysis was carried out using a microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify the shape, color, quantity, and type of MP polymer. The results indicate significant MPs contamination with the most dominant shape of fibers (86%) and fragments (8%), dominant color black (35%) and blue (27%), abundances of MPs 0.10–9.20 g −1 , as well as the presence of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) polymers. These MPs have the potential to harm plant growth and soil quality. MPs are found in significant quantities in potato gardens and have the potential to disrupt agricultural ecosystems. The presence of MPs in potato gardens can affect the quality of agricultural products and human health throughout the food chain.
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