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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Preliminary prospections on the fate of microplastics during vermicomposting of sewage sludge
ClearPreliminary prospections on the fate of microplastics during vermicomposting of sewage sludge
Researchers tracked microplastic abundance through the vermicomposting stages of sewage sludge — from fresh sludge through aged sludge, vermicompost, and earthworm castings — finding a 52% reduction in microplastic concentration from initial sludge to vermicompost when particles were classified by size, color, and polymer type using micro-Raman spectroscopy.
Effect of microplastics in sludge impacts on the vermicomposting
Researchers examined how adding polyethylene microplastic particles to sludge affects vermicomposting performance. The study found that higher microplastic concentrations reduced the efficiency of organic matter removal, impaired composting quality, and caused oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in earthworms, with bacterial diversity also declining in heavily contaminated treatments.
Vermicomposting as a potential strategy for microplastic reduction in organic waste: mini review
This review evaluates vermicomposting as a biological approach for reducing microplastic contamination in organic waste streams. Researchers found evidence that earthworms can physically fragment and partially break down certain types of microplastics during the composting process, though effects on earthworm health vary by plastic type and concentration. The study suggests that vermicomposting shows promise as a strategy for mitigating microplastic contamination in compost, but more research is needed on long-term impacts.
Vermicomposting leads to more abundant microplastics in the municipal excess sludge
Researchers found that vermicomposting of municipal excess sludge leads to increased microplastic concentrations in the treated material compared to the input sludge, raising concerns that this widely-used organic amendment technology may concentrate and spread microplastic contamination in soils.
Microplastics in an anaerobic digester treating sewage sludge: Occurrence and factors affecting their identification with Raman spectroscopy
Researchers tracked microplastic levels through an anaerobic digester used to treat sewage sludge and its subsequent separation into solid and liquid fractions. They found that the digestion process stabilized the fluctuating microplastic concentrations found in raw sludge, and that the vast majority of particles ended up in the solid fraction. Since this solid material is often applied to farmland, the findings raise concerns about sewage-derived microplastics entering agricultural soils.
Impact of Vermicomposting with Soil Enriched with Plastic and Different Biodegradable Wastes on Physical, Chemical, and Biological Parameters of Soil
Researchers examined the impact of vermicomposting on soil enriched with conventional and biodegradable plastics, measuring how earthworm activity altered plastic fragmentation and soil properties. Results showed that vermicomposting accelerated the breakdown of some plastic types while earthworms ingested plastic particles, potentially dispersing them through the soil profile.
The Effect of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Low-density Polyethylene Microplastics in Organic Material on Vermicomposting Process
Researchers assessed the effects of polyethylene terephthalate and low-density polyethylene microplastics on vermicomposting of organic material, measuring germination index, C/N ratio, worm survival, pH, and electrical conductivity and finding that both MP polymer types impair key composting process indicators.
Effect of agricultural microplastic and mesoplastic in the vermicomposting process: Response of Eisenia fetida and quality of the vermicomposts obtained
Researchers found that agricultural plastic waste in vermicomposting reduced earthworm survival by 10% and body weight by 15%, altered nutrient content of the resulting compost, and induced oxidative stress regardless of plastic particle size or UV pretreatment.
Review on advances in toxic pollutants remediation by solid waste composting and vermicomposting
Researchers review how composting and vermicomposting — using earthworms and microbes to break down organic waste — can neutralize heavy metals and persistent chemical pollutants in solid waste streams. Notably, earthworms have been found to break microplastics down into even smaller nanoplastics during digestion, raising new questions about whether vermicomposting spreads rather than eliminates plastic contamination.
Microplastics from lagooning sludge to composts as revealed by fluorescent staining- image analysis, Raman spectroscopy and pyrolysis-GC/MS
Microplastics were found in sewage sludge used as a soil amendment in Morocco, with an average of 40,500 particles per kilogram of dry matter, and conventional composting did not reduce their quantity but did affect particle size. The persistence of microplastics through composting raises concerns about repeated application of sludge-based fertilizers to agricultural soils.
Aging and mitigation of microplastics during sewage sludge treatments: An overview
Researchers reviewed how microplastics change and break down during sewage sludge treatment processes such as composting, anaerobic digestion, and thermal treatment. They found that while some treatment methods can reduce microplastic levels, others may actually fragment particles into smaller, potentially more harmful sizes. The study highlights the importance of optimizing sludge treatment to prevent microplastics from reaching agricultural soils when sludge is applied as fertilizer.
Removal Potential of Microplastics in Organic Solid Wastes via Biological Treatment Approaches
This review examines biological treatment approaches — including composting, anaerobic digestion, and vermicomposting — for removing microplastics from organic solid wastes, finding that while these methods can reduce microplastic abundance, significant knowledge gaps remain about fragmentation and fate during treatment.
Enhancing the biodegradability and environmental impact of microplastics utilizing Eisenia fetida earthworms with treated low-density polyethylene for sustainable plastic management
Researchers used Eisenia fetida earthworms to improve the biodegradability of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics in soil, testing whether earthworm-mediated soil processing could enhance the breakdown of this persistent polymer. Earthworm activity increased LDPE fragmentation and promoted microbial colonization of plastic surfaces, suggesting vermicomposting as a strategy for managing soil plastic contamination.
Fate and dynamics of microplastics in the municipal waste composting process
Researchers tracked microplastic abundance and polymer composition across five consecutive composting stages of municipal waste at the Galuga landfill in Indonesia, finding stage-specific changes including process-based reduction and fragmentation dynamics that highlight both the capacity and limitations of composting for mitigating microplastic contamination.
Detecting microplastics in organic-rich materials and their potential risks to earthworms in agroecosystems
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in sewage sludge biosolids and the agricultural soils amended with them, finding plastic particles throughout all samples. They then tested whether these environmentally realistic microplastic levels posed short-term risks to earthworms and found no significant impact on survival or fitness over 28 days. However, the study notes that longer-term and chronic exposure effects on soil organisms remain an open question.
Fragmentation and depolymerization of microplastics in the earthworm gut: A potential for microplastic bioremediation?
Researchers explored whether earthworms can break down microplastics in soil by passing them through their digestive systems. They found that earthworms fragmented and partially broke down polyethylene and biodegradable plastic particles, reducing their size and altering their chemical structure. This suggests earthworms could play a role in naturally reducing microplastic contamination in soil, though more research is needed to understand whether the smaller fragments pose their own risks.
El vermicompostaje una alternativa para potenciar la agricultura urbana
This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it is a Spanish-language review of vermicomposting techniques using earthworms to process organic solid waste for urban agriculture applications.
Sewage Sludge in Farmlands: A Gateway to Soil Microplastic Pollution?
Researchers analysed microplastic contamination in dewatered anaerobically digested sewage sludge and adjacent agricultural fields in the UK with varied sludge application histories, using fluorescence microscopy and FTIR/Raman spectroscopy to detect predominantly polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, polystyrene, PVC, and polyamide particles.
Enhancing microplastic removal and nitrogen mitigation in constructed wetlands: An earthworm-centric perspective
Researchers added earthworms to constructed wetlands and found they significantly improved the removal of biodegradable microplastics and nitrogen pollutants from wastewater. The earthworms reshaped their gut microbial communities in ways that boosted both plastic degradation and nitrogen cycling, increasing microplastic removal by 13.5 percent. The findings suggest that incorporating earthworms into wetland treatment systems could offer a natural, low-cost approach to improving water quality.
Microplastics identification and quantification in the composted Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste
Researchers quantified microplastics in composted organic municipal solid waste from five facilities, finding contamination levels that raise concerns about compost quality and the potential transfer of microplastics to agricultural soils through organic waste recycling.