Ecological risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural soils of Coimbatore region, India

Although plastics provide numerous conveniences for human life, concerns about ecosystems and human life are rising tremendously due to increased plastic production and consumption. The ubiquitous presence and undeniable distribution of microplastics (MPs) in agricultural usage created a major risk concern for soil ecology and human health. The ecological risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural sites in the Coimbatore region of South India has been evaluated using three ecological risk indices: Pollution Hazard Index (PHI), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI). Based on the concentration of hazardous MPs (Polyethylene, polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylamide, polyacrylamide, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride) in sampling sites, risk assessment indicated the major risk level in inorganic fertilizers applied site. Meanwhile, PLI indicated that all the sites were in category I with low pollution load in the region. However, the hazard scores of polymers increased the PERI values and exhibited their values in the extremely dangerous category. Since the models for evaluating MPs risk in agricultural sites are not yet developed, this calculation is cautiously calculated and further research could gradually add base reference data for understanding the distribution, ecological risk, and trophic transfer of MPs.