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Quantification and Identification of Microplastics in Organic Fertilizers: The Implication for the Manufacture and Safe Application
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Researchers analyzed 25 commercial organic fertilizers and farm composts and found microplastics in all of them, with farm composts containing more than twice the concentration of commercial products. The findings suggest that organic fertilizer application is a significant and underregulated pathway for microplastic contamination of agricultural soils.
The application of organic fertilizers has been suspected as an important source of microplastic (MP) pollution in agricultural soils. However, limited data have been reported regarding the quantity and characteristics of MPs in organic fertilizers, giving rise to the difficulties in their risk assessment. This study investigated the occurrence of MPs in 23 commercial organic fertilizers and two farm composts, covering different raw materials and treatment processes. The average MP concentration in the commercial organic fertilizers was 9210.4 ± 1743.1 items/kg, significantly lower than that in farm composts (24344.1 ± 2697.2 items/kg). Among commercial organic fertilizers, the MP loads varied significantly with the source materials and their processing. Organic fertilizers derived solely or proportionally from plant-derived materials through mechanical shredding and sieving had lower MP abundances. The polymer sizes, morphotypes, and colors of MPs in studied samples were mainly < 3 mm, fiber, and black, respectively. The variations in the MP characteristics implied their diverse sources. This study provided a detailed assessment of MP accumulation in organic fertilizers, and confirmed their significance to the MP pollution in terrestrial ecosystem. The results also highlighted the importance of establishing standards to regulate the contents of plastics in raw materials and end products and the treatment processes for the manufacture, thus ensuring the safe application of organic fertilizers.
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An Evaluation of Potential Microplastic Risk from Commercial Organic Fertilizers
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A study comparing shrimp aquaculture in HDPE and concrete ponds in Indonesia found significantly higher microplastic concentrations in HDPE pond water (15,474 particles/m³) and shrimp tissue (6.75 particles/g), with a moderate positive correlation between water and tissue levels indicating bioaccumulation. The results show that aquaculture pond materials directly influence microplastic contamination in farmed seafood, with clear implications for food safety.
Quantification and identification of microplastics in organic fertilizers: the implication for the manufacture and safe application
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Researchers measured microplastic contamination in 23 commercial organic fertilizers, finding widespread presence at levels that could meaningfully contribute to agricultural soil pollution when fertilizers are applied. The results raise concerns about organic fertilizers as an underappreciated pathway for microplastics entering farm soils and the food system.
Microplastics and Synthetic Polymers in Agricultural Soils: Biodegradation, Analytical Methods and Their Impact on Environment
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Microplastics and synthetic polymers are emerging contaminants in agricultural soils that resist biodegradation and threaten soil health and food safety. Standardizing analytical methods for detecting these pollutants in soil is essential for assessing their environmental impact and developing effective remediation strategies.
Agro-(Bio)Microplastics: Extraction, Identification, and Quantification Methodologies
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This paper examines methods for extracting, identifying, and quantifying microplastics from biodegradable bioplastics used in agriculture, which fragment into particles that are difficult to distinguish from conventional microplastics. Understanding whether bioplastics truly degrade safely is vital, as agricultural microplastic contamination of soil directly affects food crops consumed by humans.
Micro and Nanoplastics in Agricultural Soils: Challenges and Future Directions
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This review examined the sources, behavior, and ecological effects of micro- and nanoplastics in agricultural soils, highlighting challenges in detection, risk assessment, and regulatory management as plastic use in farming continues to grow. Nanoplastics in particular present heightened concern because their tiny size enables deeper soil penetration, plant uptake into edible tissues, and greater biological reactivity than larger fragments.
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