Microplastic is a hot discussion topic often correlated with the ocean. But beside the ocean, have we ever thought that microplastic may be in soils as well?

Quoting from niva.no website, microplastics are tiny plastic particles (1ɥm – 5 mm). They mostly originate in urban areas from the degeneration of car tires, domestic goods, industrial processes and from degeneration of surfaces composed of, or coated with, plastic, i.e. artificial grass. In most developed regions, urban run-off water end up in sewage treatment plants.

Soil, specifically in agricultural landscapes, has a potential consequence of containing microplastics from the application of sewage sludge. Sewage sludge can be turned into a fertilizer containing valuable nutrients. Whereas the consequence of microplastic comes from an accumulation of them in waste water treatment plants that would receive large amounts of microplastic from households, industry, and surface run-off urban areas.

The application of sewage sludge as a fertilizer is generally well regulated, however microplastics are currently not on the regulatory agenda for the use of it in agriculture. Potential consequences for sustainability and food security have not been adequately analyzed, meaning that the effects of microplastics accumulating in agricultural soils are still unknown.

Reference:

https://www.niva.no/en/news/microplastics-in-agricultural-soils-a-reason-to-worry