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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Tracking nonregulated micropollutants in sewage sludge: Antimicrobials, OH-PAHs, and microplastics — Environmental risks, fertilizer implications and energy considerations
ClearFate of microplastics in sewage sludge and in agricultural soils
Researchers reviewed how microplastics accumulate in sewage sludge at wastewater treatment plants and then spread into agricultural soils when that sludge is applied as fertilizer, finding that sludge treatment processes can alter microplastic size and shape but do not eliminate them. The review calls for standardized methods to study how different sludge treatments affect microplastic properties and their downstream risks to soil health.
Source, occurrence, migration and potential environmental risk of microplastics in sewage sludge and during sludge amendment to soil
This review examines microplastics in sewage sludge and the risks of applying sludge as agricultural fertilizer, finding that sludge acts as both a sink for sewage microplastics and a source when spread on fields. Co-accumulated heavy metals, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes on microplastics further complicate the environmental risks of sludge amendment to soils.
Stabilized Sewage Sludge as Fertilizer: Risks Related to the Presence of Microplastics
Researchers analyzed microplastic content in sewage sludge-derived fertilizer collected in June and July, finding an average of ~460 mg of microplastics per 100 g of fertilizer with fragments and fibers predominating — raising concerns about agricultural land contamination from sewage sludge application.
Hidden contaminants: Unveiling the content of microplastics in municipal sewage sludge that may affect soil ecosystems
Researchers analyzed sewage sludge from two municipal treatment plants and found up to 116,000 microplastic particles per kilogram of dry sludge, with fiber-shaped and film-shaped particles dominating each plant respectively — highlighting the risk of spreading microplastic contamination to farmland when sludge is used as fertilizer.
Microplastic contamination in sewage sludge: Abundance, characteristics, and impacts on the environment and human health
This review focuses on microplastics found in sewage sludge, which is often spread on agricultural land as fertilizer. The practice introduces microplastics directly into farm soil, where they can be taken up by crops or leach into groundwater. This creates a pathway for microplastics to reach human food and drinking water, raising concerns about the safety of using sewage sludge in agriculture.
Co-occurrence of microplastics, heavy metals, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sewage sludge: One matrix, multiple threats to agricultural soils
Researchers quantified microplastics, heavy metals, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in sewage sludge from eight wastewater treatment plants in Hungary. The study found an average of 54 microplastic particles per gram of dried sludge, estimating that approximately 586 billion microplastic particles enter Hungarian agricultural soils annually through sludge application, alongside concerning levels of heavy metals and resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.
Assessing emerging and priority micropollutants in sewage sludge: environmental insights and analytical approaches
Researchers reviewed the presence of emerging pollutants, including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals, in sewage sludge that is commonly applied to agricultural land. They found that current analytical methods are improving but still face challenges in detecting these contaminants at low concentrations in complex sludge samples. The study highlights the environmental risks of spreading pollutant-laden sludge on farmland and calls for better monitoring standards.
Configuration-driven microplastic fate in full-scale sewage sludge treatment and opportunities for system-level mitigation
Researchers examined how different treatment configurations in wastewater plants shape the types and concentrations of microplastics that end up in sewage sludge — the solid byproduct that is frequently spread on agricultural land as fertilizer. Microplastic concentrations in final sludge ranged from 617 to 936 particles per gram of dry solids, with fine fragments under 100 micrometers dominating, and the specific sequence of thickening, digestion, and dewatering steps significantly influenced which polymer types were retained. Since sludge application is a major route for microplastics to enter farmland, optimizing treatment processes could meaningfully reduce environmental contamination.
Assessment of the Presence of Microplastics in Stabilized Sewage Sludge: Analysis Methods and Environmental Impact
Researchers measured microplastic levels in treated sewage sludge used to make agricultural fertilizer and found concentrations as high as 2,942 fragments per 100 grams of dry material. Low-density polyethylene fragments were the most common type detected, with the highest levels occurring during summer months. When this sludge-based fertilizer is applied to farmland, it could introduce thousands of microplastic particles per square meter of soil, raising concerns about long-term soil health.
The overlooked pathway: A systematic review on sewage sludge treatment as a critical secondary source of terrestrial micro(nano)plastics
This systematic review examines sewage sludge as an overlooked pathway for microplastics to contaminate land, with concentrations reaching over 1,300 particles per kilogram. When this sludge is applied to farmland as fertilizer, aged and chemically modified microplastics enter agricultural soil, where they may be more toxic than fresh particles and can potentially be taken up by crops.
Microplastics in Sludges and Soils: A Comprehensive Review on Distribution, Characteristics, and Effects
This review summarizes research on microplastics in sewage sludge and soil, noting that when contaminated sludge is used as fertilizer, it turns farmland into a major reservoir for microplastic pollution. The accumulated microplastics can alter soil properties, harm soil organisms, and potentially enter crops and groundwater, creating pathways for human exposure through food and drinking water.
Microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes nexus in sewage sludge: impact of thermal hydrolysis process- anaerobic digestion
Researchers reviewed the interactions between microplastics, antibiotic resistance genes, and biofilm-embedded microbial communities in sewage sludge treatment processes. The study found that these contaminants persist through wastewater treatment including thermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion, posing environmental and public health risks when treated biosolids are applied to agricultural land.
An Overlooked Entry Pathway of Microplastics into Agricultural Soils from Application of Sludge-Based Fertilizers
Researchers analyzed sludge-based fertilizers applied to agricultural soils and found high microplastic concentrations (hundreds to thousands per kilogram of dry weight) that were transferred to soils after application, identifying this as an important but overlooked pathway for terrestrial microplastic contamination.
A review on the fate and effects of contaminants in biosolids applied on land: Hazards and government regulatory policies
This review examines the contaminants, including microplastics and persistent organic pollutants, that remain in treated sewage sludge (biosolids) when it is applied to farmland as fertilizer. These pollutants can accumulate in soil and potentially enter crops and groundwater, creating exposure pathways to humans. The authors argue that current government regulations on biosolid use, particularly in the US, are outdated and need updating to address emerging contaminants like microplastics.
Microplastics in Sewage Sludge: A review
This review examines the presence and fate of microplastics in sewage sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants, a topic that has received less attention than microplastics in the water treatment line. The study highlights that agricultural application of sewage sludge is a primary source of microplastic contamination in soils, and provides a comprehensive overview of detection methods, concentrations, and the environmental implications of sludge-borne microplastics.
Sewage Sludge-Mediated Microplastic Transfer to Agroecosystem: A Comprehensive Review on Detection, Fate and Ecological Impacts
This review study shows that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are getting into farm soil through sewage sludge that's used as fertilizer. When wastewater treatment plants process our sewage, they capture these plastic bits in the leftover sludge, which farmers then spread on their fields. This matters because these microplastics could potentially affect our food supply and soil health, but scientists still need more research to understand the full risks.
Microplastics in Sewage Sludge: A Known but Underrated Pathway in Wastewater Treatment Plants
This review finds that wastewater treatment plants effectively transfer microplastics from effluent into sewage sludge, creating a significant but underrated pathway for MP contamination when sludge is applied to agricultural soils.
[Microplastics in wastewater treatment: current status and future trends].
This review summarizes current research on microplastic occurrence, removal, and fate in wastewater treatment plants, noting that while plants capture most microplastics in activated sludge, significant numbers still escape into effluent. The sludge itself then becomes a major pathway for microplastics to enter agricultural soils when applied as fertilizer. Future treatment improvements and sludge management policies are needed to reduce these release pathways.
Risk of re-release of microplastics from sewage fertilisers into the environment
This paper reviews the risk that microplastics in sewage sludge (biosolids used as agricultural fertilizer) will be re-released into soils and water when the sludge is land-applied. Microplastics from cosmetics and clothing fibers concentrate in sludge during wastewater treatment and persist because they resist biodegradation. Applying microplastic-contaminated biosolids to farmland is one of the major pathways through which microplastics enter agricultural soils.
Sampling, pre-treatment, and identification methods of microplastics in sewage sludge and their effects in agricultural soils: a review
This review examines methods for sampling, pre-treating, and identifying microplastics in sewage sludge, which accumulates microplastics removed during wastewater treatment. Researchers found that standardized protocols for sludge analysis are still lacking, making it difficult to compare results across studies. The study also highlights that when microplastic-laden sludge is applied to agricultural soils, it may introduce persistent plastic contamination into terrestrial ecosystems.
Mapping microplastics in sludge
Researchers mapped microplastic contamination in sewage sludge from eight Norwegian wastewater treatment plants, finding plastics in all ten samples with an overall average of 6,077 particles per kilogram dry weight. Based on current sludge application rates in Norway, researchers estimated that over 500 billion microplastic particles enter the environment annually through agricultural and land application of sewage sludge.
Occurrence and environmental consequences of microplastics and nanoplastics from agricultural reuse of wastewater and biosolids in the soil ecosystem: A review
This review examines how wastewater and sewage sludge used in agriculture introduce microplastics and nanoplastics into farm soil, where they can persist and accumulate over time. Municipal wastewater can contain thousands of plastic particles per liter, and treated sewage sludge used as fertilizer can contain over 30,000 particles per liter. These practices create a long-term buildup of plastic contamination in agricultural soil that can affect crops, groundwater, and ultimately human food and water supplies.
Investigation and analysis of microplastics in sewage sludge and biosolids: A case study from one wastewater treatment works in the UK
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in sewage sludge and biosolids at a UK wastewater treatment plant and found significant quantities of microplastics persisting through the treatment process. Since millions of tonnes of biosolids are applied to farmland annually in the UK, this represents a major pathway for microplastic pollution entering agricultural soils. The study highlights the need for better monitoring and treatment methods to reduce microplastic transfer from wastewater to the terrestrial environment.
Exposure assessment of plastics, phthalate plasticizers and their transformation products in diverse bio-based fertilizers
Researchers tested bio-based fertilizers made from different organic wastes and found they all contained microplastics and phthalate plasticizers (chemicals added to make plastics flexible). Fertilizers made from sewage sludge had the highest levels of contamination, and the processing methods only partially reduced the chemical pollutants. This means that using these fertilizers on farmland could be introducing microplastics and hormone-disrupting chemicals into agricultural soils and potentially into our food.