Microplastic Transport from Biosolids Applications (Completed)

Significance:

• Between 4.8 to 12.7 million tons (Mt) of plastic waste entering oceans and other aquatic systems through terrestrial sites. 

• By 2025 potentially 250 Mt plastic tons of waste will be in marine ecosystems 

Objective:

1. Determine average concentration of microplastics in runoff via biosolid application in agricultural setting

2. Determine average concentration per type of microplastics 

Hypothesis:

• Applications with biosolids would have higher concentrations of microplastics.

Conclusions:

• Biosolids land applications increase microplastic concentration in soil and runoff.

• Microplastics are entering agricultural soils through alternative sources. 

Funded: NSF Environmental Engineering

Publication: In-Prep

Graduate Students: Nasrin Naderi Beni