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Determination and quantification of microplastics in compost
Summary
Researchers analyzed commercially available compost products to determine how much microplastic contamination they contain. They found microplastics in all tested composts, with fibers and fragments being the most common forms, primarily made of polyethylene and polypropylene. The findings raise concerns that applying commercial compost to agricultural land may be an overlooked pathway for introducing microplastics into soil.
Abstract Although microplastics (MPs) in solid organic waste have been intensively studied, the presence of MPs in organic fertilizer and their potential as new emerging pollution to environment because of their use in agriculture has not been explained completely. Therefore, the identification and quantification of MPs in commercially available compost is important. This study aimed to estimate the quantity of MPs in commercial composts. The characteristics of MPs (shape, color, size, and type of polymers) were identified. This study found that MPs in commercial compost samples were found, reaching up to 160 particles/200 g of compost with various colors (blue, black, red, yellow, and white). The identified MPs had various sizes (0.1–1 mm) and shapes (81.8% fragment, 16.2% fiber, and 2% filament). The findings of this study are very important and significant to inform community and policymakers regarding the presence of MPs in commercial compost, hence, their intensive use in agriculture must be controlled and careful.