The combined ecotoxicological effects of low concentrations of titanium dioxide and polystyrene on Eisenia fetida vitality, compost quality, and genomic integrity

Integrated Impacts of Microplastics Contaminated Compost on Soil–Plant Systems and Bioaccumulation in Lettuce, Tomato, and Radish

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Researchers grew lettuce, tomatoes, and radish in soils amended with four composts of varying microplastic loads, finding that the most contaminated compost reduced early plant growth and resulted in bioaccumulation averaging 118, 81, and 140 microplastic particles per gram dry weight in the respective edible tissues. The study demonstrates that microplastics in compost-amended agricultural soil transfer directly into food crops, posing a direct pathway for human dietary exposure.

Combined toxic impact of polystyrene nanoplastics and a flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) on freshwater algae Scenedesmus obliquus

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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) combined with a common flame retardant chemical (TBBPA) harm freshwater algae more than either pollutant does alone, slowing their growth and damaging their cells. Since algae form the base of aquatic food webs, this matters because these tiny organisms feed everything from small fish to the seafood we eventually eat, meaning pollution "teamwork" in our waterways could have ripple effects up the food chain and, ultimately, onto our plates.

Effect of Microplastic Exposure on Growth Parameters in Eisenia fetida (Savigny 1826)

Microplastics in MSW-derived compost: release rate, characteristics, ecological risks, and mitigation strategies for sustainable agriculture

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Compost made from household trash often contains tiny plastic bits called microplastics, and surprisingly, the compost from industrial facilities had even more plastic contamination than the raw waste it started from. Since this compost gets spread on farm fields, these plastic fragments can build up in the soil where our food grows. The good news: simply sorting out plastic from food/organic waste before composting (rather than mixing everything together) dramatically cuts down on this contamination, suggesting better recycling habits at home and in waste facilities could help keep microplastics out of our agricultural system.

Occurrence Characteristics, Effects and Fate of Typical Emerging Contaminants in Compost

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This review of emerging contaminants in municipal solid waste compost found substantial levels of microplastics (up to 32,070 items/kg in sewage sludge compost), PFAS, antibiotic resistance genes, and pharmaceuticals, with all categories capable of entering and disrupting soil ecosystems when compost is applied to land. The finding that compost—widely promoted as a soil amendment—can be a vector for microplastic and chemical contamination highlights a critical but underappreciated pathway for pollutant dispersal into agricultural soils.