Projects / Programmes
Agri-iMPact: Microplastic Prevalence and Impact in Agricultural Fields
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.02.09 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Chemical engineering |
Ecological technology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.04 |
Engineering and Technology |
Chemical engineering
|
Microplastics, soil health, agricultural production, soil microorganisms, plant growth, terrestrial ecosystems
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
35550 |
PhD Franja Prosenc |
Control and care of the environment |
Head |
2020 - 2023 |
0 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The widespread use of plastics and the modern “throwaway culture” drive the production of plastics higher every year, with more than 311 million tonnes produced in 2014. Microplastics (MP) are commonly defined as particles smaller than 5 mm. They can be categorised into primary and secondary MP particles. Primary MP are specifically produced to be of small sizes, such as the ones used in personal care products. Secondary MP, on the other hand, are particles resulting from the breakdown of macro plastics as a result of UV radiation and high temperatures, contributing to the fragmentation of macro plastics. Plastics are an environmentally persistent and a complex contaminant. The term refers to a wide range of polymers, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PETF). The concern of MP particles is not only their presence in the environment, but also their negative impact on the ecosystems in which they accumulate. MP particles have been shown to exhibit adverse effects in a wide range of organisms, such as mussels, zooplankton, earthworms, etc. What is more, due to their hydrophobicity, MP particles tend to adsorb, concentrate and transport co-contaminants, such as endocrine disruptors, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and other persistent organic pollutants. A large proportion of current microplastics research is focused on MP found in the marine environment, while there is a very limited amount of studies dealing with MP in terrestrial environments. There is a big gap of knowledge about the quantity and impact of MP in terrestrial environment. Especially concerning for MP pollution are agricultural lands, where they can accumulate and affect the microorganisms in soil, which in turn may negatively affect soil health and the growth of agricultural plants. They have been shown to decrease the microbial biomass and alter the activity of enzymes, involved in nutrient cycling. Moreover, they have been shown to be up taken by plants, and to potentially delay germination of seeds. MP can enter agricultural fields in several ways, for example, through application of sewage sludge from WWTPs as a fertiliser, or through irrigation of field with treated or untreated wastewater. Products from alternative WW treatment technologies, such as biomass and effluent from high-rate algae ponds (HRAP) have not yet been evaluated for MP content. The proposed project will address major gaps in knowledge about MP pollution in the terrestrial environment exposed above. Specifically, the objectives we are aiming to achieve are: (1) development and optimisation of a novel method for quantification of MP in the soil, employing a software for automatic recognition of MP particles in the soil, with FTIR validation of the software. Application of the developed method and software on a range of environmental soil samples that have been irrigated with WW or fertilised with biowaste compost, and a range of WWTP products (untreated sludge, anaerobic sludge digestate, HRAP biomass); (2) determination of the effect MP has on the ability of soil microorganisms to transform nitrogen, and on plant growth; (3) raising public awareness of the effect MP has on soil health and options for managing their concentrations in soil. These will be done to evaluate the potential impact of MP on soil health and the terrestrial ecosystem itself. The outcomes and the results of the proposed project will help to contribute to answering the many open issues identified in the proposal and will contribute to the development of science through providing new, previously poorly addressed knowledge and analytical tools.
