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Fate of microplastics applied to agricultural soils in biosolids
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Researchers studied the fate of microplastics added to soil through biosolid amendments, tracking where particles went over time through different soil layers and environmental conditions. They found that microplastics can persist in agricultural soils and gradually migrate through the soil profile, potentially reaching deeper layers and groundwater. The study identifies biosolid application as a route by which microplastics become incorporated into agricultural soils and may persist for years.
Biosolids are a vital resource in agriculture, providing essential nutrients for soils to enhance crop yield. Despite this, they contain a variety of unregulated contaminants, including microplastics. This means that biosolids may be acting as a vector for microplastics into agricultural soils and the wider environment. However, little is known about the fate of microplastics entering soil through this route. We therefore measured microplastic contamination in soils from five independent farms in the UK surrounding a biosolid application event. Samples were taken prior to application and at intervals up to 1-year post-application. Soil characteristics such as organic matter and particle size distribution, and environmental conditions, including rainfall, were also considered here as influencing factors in microplastic fate in soils. An oil separation method and hydrogen peroxide digestion were used to extract microplastics which were then quantified using automated µFTIR. Microplastics were ubiquitous across farms and sampling occasions in differing quantities, suggesting that microplastic concentrations are dependent on farm management and seasonality. High variability was measured within fields with microplastics concentrations from 0- 7950 MP/kg ranging in sizes and polymer types. Additionally, microplastic concentrations did not increase directly after biosolid application, but were variable across timepoints suggesting that, despite previous reports of biosolids containing high numbers of microplastics, they were not the driving factor for soil microplastic contamination. Additional sources and environmental conditions are likely to be contributing to microplastic contamination in agricultural systems and should be further considered in future studies. Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/427247/document
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Researchers compared microplastic content in biosolid-amended agricultural soils versus non-amended control soils, examining eleven amended and nine non-amended sites to quantify the contribution of biosolid application to soil microplastic loads. The study found higher microplastic concentrations in biosolid-amended soils, confirming that biosolid application is a significant pathway for microplastic introduction into agricultural land.
Microplastic fate in a chronosequence of biosolid‐amended agricultural soil in Southern Ontario, Canada
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A field study in 2022 tracked the fate of microplastics in agricultural soils amended with municipal biosolids over a chronosequence of application histories, filling a gap in environmentally relevant field data. Biosolid-amended soils showed elevated microplastic concentrations, raising concerns about the circular use of these fertilizers.
Identification of microplastics extracted from field soils amended with municipal biosolids
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Researchers developed a method for extracting and identifying microplastics from agricultural soils that had been treated with municipal biosolids, a common fertilizer derived from wastewater treatment. They found a variety of plastic polymer types in the soil, confirming that biosolid application is a pathway for microplastic contamination of farmland. The study provides a reliable technique for tracking how microplastics cycle through agricultural environments.
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