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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Investigating the dispersal of macro- and microplastics on agricultural fields 30 years after sewage sludge application
ClearMicroplastic accumulation and transport in agricultural soils with long-term sewage sludge amendments
This study examined farmland that received sewage sludge applications for 16 years and found that microplastic levels in the topsoil were about five times higher than in untreated fields. Microplastics also migrated deeper into the soil over time, with migration rates 20 times greater in sludge-treated areas. The findings demonstrate that long-term use of sewage sludge as fertilizer is a significant pathway for microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils.
Evidence of microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils from sewage sludge disposal
Agricultural soils from 31 fields with different sludge application histories were analyzed for microplastics, finding significant accumulation in fields with repeated sludge applications and a positive correlation between application frequency and plastic particle counts. The study provides direct field evidence that sewage sludge fertilization is a major pathway for microplastic accumulation in agricultural soil.
Impact of sewage sludge application on soil microplastic accumulation and nutrient levels: Analysis of 22 years of data from central UK farmland
Researchers analyzed a 22-year dataset from 5,323 fields in central UK to examine the relationship between repeated sewage sludge application and microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils, alongside changes in nutrient levels such as nitrogen and phosphorus. They found that microplastic concentrations increased with cumulative sludge applications while nutrients were taken up by crops, raising concerns about long-term plastic accumulation in farmland receiving sludge-derived fertilizers.
Vertical distribution of microplastics in an agricultural soil after long-term treatment with sewage sludge and mineral fertiliser
After 24 years of use, researchers found that sewage sludge applied as fertilizer deposited significantly more microplastics in farm soil than mineral fertilizer, with substantial amounts migrating deeper than the plow layer -- down to 70 cm. Textile-related plastic fibers were especially common in sludge-treated soil, and smaller fragments moved deeper over time. This shows that decades of applying treated sewage to farmland creates lasting microplastic contamination throughout the soil profile.
Microplastics in an agricultural soil following repeated application of three types of sewage sludge: A field study
Researchers investigated microplastics in agricultural soil after repeated sewage sludge application, finding that sludge-amended soils contained significantly more small microplastic particles than unamended soils, with particle accumulation varying by sludge type.
Impact of sewage sludge application on soil microplastic accumulation and nutrient levels: Analysis of 22 years of data from central UK farmland
Researchers analyzed 22 years of data from central UK farmland to assess how repeated sewage sludge application accumulates microplastics in agricultural soil while nutrients are absorbed by crops, finding that microplastic buildup disrupts geochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
Microplastic distribution and transport in agricultural soils : from field to burrow scale
Researchers investigated the spatial distribution and transport of microplastics in agricultural soils through field surveys and laboratory experiments. They found that sewage sludge amendments led to significantly higher microplastic contamination than mineral fertilizers, and that earthworm activity was a key mechanism for moving plastic particles deeper into soil. The study highlights the importance of accounting for both horizontal and vertical microplastic transport in soils when assessing agricultural pollution.
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.
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.
Agricultural application of microplastic-rich sewage sludge leads to further uncontrolled contamination
Researchers found that 44% of microplastics from sewage sludge applied to agricultural land migrated to nearby untreated areas, demonstrating that this common fertilizer practice leads to further uncontrolled contamination of surrounding soils.
Soil fertility effects of repeated application of sewage sludge in two 30-year-old field experiments
Two long-term Swedish field experiments found that repeated application of sewage sludge over 30 years maintained or improved soil fertility metrics including nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter content, though concerns about contaminants including microplastics were noted. The study is relevant to microplastic research because sewage sludge is one of the main pathways through which microplastics enter agricultural soils.
Sewage sludge application as a vehicle for microplastics in eastern Spanish agricultural soils
Scientists measured microplastics in sewage sludge from Spanish wastewater treatment plants and in agricultural soils receiving sludge applications, finding that sludge application transferred hundreds to thousands of microplastic particles per kilogram into agricultural soil.
Microplastics in agricultural soils following sewage sludge applications: Evidence from a 25-year study
This 25-year study -- the longest of its kind -- tracked microplastics in agricultural soils after sewage sludge was applied and found that plastic levels increased by 700-1,400% and remained largely unchanged over two decades. The persistence of these microplastics in farmland is concerning because they can potentially enter crops and the food chain, and the breakdown of colored plastic fibers may release toxic textile dyes into soil.
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.
Fate 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.
Are Agricultural Soils Dumps for Microplastics of Urban Origin?
Researchers investigated whether agricultural soils serve as dumping grounds for urban-origin microplastics, finding evidence that sewage sludge application and atmospheric deposition deliver city-sourced plastics to farmland.
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.
Seasonal Variation, Distribution and Characteristics of Microplastic in Sewage Sludge
Researchers investigated seasonal variation in microplastic concentration, distribution, and characteristics within sewage sludge at wastewater treatment plants, examining how precipitation patterns and sludge treatment processes influence microplastic retention and the pathways by which sludge-borne microplastics enter agricultural soils upon land application.
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.
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.
Accumulation and migration of microplastics and its influencing factors in coastal saline-alkali soils amended with sewage sludge
Researchers studied the accumulation and migration of microplastics in coastal saline-alkali soil amended with sewage sludge, finding that sludge application introduces substantial MP loads and that soil salinity and structure influence how MPs move through the soil profile.
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.
Microplastic abundance in sludge-treated fields: Variance and estimated half-life
Researchers measured microplastic levels in agricultural fields that had been heavily treated with sewage sludge, finding concentrations ranging from roughly 2,400 to 49,000 particles per kilogram of soil, with polyester and acrylic accounting for more than half of all particles. The study estimated that once sludge application stops, the number of microplastic particles in soil decreases with a half-life of about 2.5 years, suggesting smaller particles break down or migrate away faster than larger ones.
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.