Author response for "Comparing the Microplastic Content in Biosolid-Amended and Non-Amended Agricultural Soils"

Accumulation and fate of microplastics in soils after application of biosolids on land: A review

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Researchers reviewing land application of biosolids found that agricultural soils receive between 18 and 690,000 microplastic particles per kilogram of soil, with retention increasing in soils rich in organic carbon and metal oxides, and that biodegradation alters plastic composition but proceeds slowly.

Microplastic accumulation, persistence, and vertical movement in an agricultural soil amended with alkaline-treated biosolids

Comparing the microplastic content in biosolid-amended and non-amended agricultural soils

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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.

Microplastics in Agricultural Soils

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Researchers reviewed what is known about microplastic contamination in agricultural soils, noting that despite hundreds of millions of tonnes of plastic entering the environment annually, very little is understood about how microplastics persist, migrate, and affect soil ecosystems. This knowledge gap is concerning given that contaminated soil directly affects food crops consumed by humans.

Microplastics in Soils and Sediment: Sources, Methodologies, and Interactions with Microorganisms

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Researchers reviewed the sources, measurement methods, and ecological interactions of microplastics in soils and sediments, highlighting that terrestrial plastic pollution is substantial and poorly understood, and that microplastics in soil can affect microbial communities in ways that may ripple through food webs and nutrient cycles.