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Microplastic pollution of organic waste products used for soil amendment
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Researchers measured microplastic contamination in various organic waste products intended for use as soil amendments, including composts, green waste, manure, and sewage sludge. All materials tested contained microplastics, with types and concentrations varying by source. The findings highlight a significant pathway for microplastic contamination of agricultural soils through the use of organic fertilizers and soil conditioners.
The latest literature suggests that organic fertilizers are one of the first sources of contamination of agricultural soils. Indeed, organic materials for intended soil amendments (e.g. composts, green waste, manure, sewage sludge) are the result of various processes and can be contaminated by microplastics (MP), such as packaging residues. In order to improve our knowledge on the level of contamination, as well as on the nature of MP in organic amendments, the PRO project (2021-2023) has been set up by Ademe (French Agency for Ecological Transition). This project has several challenges: to identify the matrices acting as sources of MP, to study the diversity and origins of these MP, and to estimate the potential flows to agricultural land. Within this framework, the IRDL (Institut de Recherche Dupuy de Lôme) is responsible for setting up and testing the method for extracting and analysing MP contaminating these matrices. Our mission is to validate a digestion protocol applicable to 21 complex solid matrices rich in organic matter while, at the same time, ensuring the integrity of extracted polymers (especially biodegradable ones). 83 samples are planned for this project, and half have already been analysed. Preliminary recommendations following these tests and unpublished results will be presented. Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/427005/document
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