Microplastic pollution in agricultural lands

Presentation by Dr Mehran Rashti and Dr Xiangyu Liu (Griffith University)

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a significant contaminant in agroecosystems due to their extraordinary resistance to degradation in terrestrial environments. We studied the characteristics and risks associated with MPs in biosolids and biosolid-amended soils. The research delves into determining the concentration, size distribution, and chemical composition of MPs in sewage sludge biosolids and agricultural soils amended with biosolids, shedding light on their potential impact on soil biota, particularly earthworms. Our study emphasized the crucial need for continued investigations into the fate and detrimental effects of microplastics on soil biota, in environmentally relevant scenarios, to safeguard soil ecosystems from the pervasive threats posed by microplastics in agricultural settings.