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Is the application of organic fertilizers becoming an undeniable source of microplastics and resistance genes in agricultural systems?
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Organic fertilizers such as compost, manure, and biosolids are increasingly recognized as significant pathways for both microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to enter agricultural soils. Microplastics in these fertilizers can carry and protect antibiotic-resistant bacteria, potentially spreading resistance through the food chain. The review identifies high-temperature composting as a partial solution for reducing ARGs but notes that effective methods for removing microplastics from organic fertilizers remain limited.
The application of organic fertilizers is becoming an undeniable source of microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in agricultural soils. The complex microbial activity further transfers resistance genes and their host bacteria to agricultural products and throughout the entire food chain. Therefore, the current main focus is on reducing the abundance of microplastics and ARGs in organic fertilizers at the source, as well as managing microplastics and ARGs in soil. The control of microplastic abundance in organic fertilizers is currently only achieved through pre-composting selection and other methods. However, there are still many shortcomings in the research on the distribution characteristics, propagation and diffusion mechanisms, and control technologies of ARGs, and some key scientific issues still need to be urgently addressed. The high-temperature composting of organic waste can effectively reduce the abundance of ARGs in organic fertilizers to a certain extent. However, it is also important to consider the spread of ARGs in residual antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). This article systematically explores the pathways and interactions of microplastics and resistance genes entering agricultural soils through the application of organic fertilizers. The removal of microplastics and ARGs from organic fertilizers was discussed in detail. Based on the limitations of existing research, further investigation in this area is expected to provide valuable insights for the development and practical implementation of technologies aimed at reducing soil microplastics and resistance genes.
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