How many microplastic particles are present in Canadian biosolids?

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20497

Language of the publication
English
Date
2023-06-09
Type
Article
Author(s)
  • Sivarajah, Branaavan
  • Lapen, David R.
  • Gewurtz, Sarah B.
  • Smyth, Shirley Anne
  • Provencher, Jennifer F.
  • Vermaire, Jesse C.
Publisher
Wiley

Abstract

Application of treated sewage sludge (biosolids) from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to farmlands is an important pathway through which microplastic particles (MPs) enter terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, microplastic concentrations in Canadian biosolids have only been estimated in samples from four WWTPs previously. We aimed to fill this knowledge gap by quantifying microplastics in biosolids from 22 WWTPs located in nine provinces and two commercial fertilizer producers in Canada. All samples had substantial microplastic concentrations ranging from 228 to 1353 particles per gram dry weight (median = 636 particles), which are orders of magnitude greater than MPs reported from earlier investigations of biosolids from other countries. Fibers (median: 86%) were the most common type of MPs observed, followed by fragments (median: 13%). There were no statistically significant differences in the amount of microplastics observed in the biosolids from different geographical regions, WWTP types, and sludge treatment processes. This suggests that diverse combinations of local sewershed characteristics, site-specific treatment approaches, and daily flow at WWTPs may be influencing concentrations of microplastics in biosolids. Our results indicate that microplastic concentrations in biosolids are substantially higher than they are in other environmental matrices, and this has important implications to managing microplastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems.

Subject

  • Nature and environment,
  • Water,
  • Science and technology

Rights

Pagination

1037 - 1048

Peer review

Yes

Open access level

Gold

Identifiers

ISSN
1537-2537
0047-2425

Article

Journal title
Journal of Environmental Quality
Journal volume
52
Journal issue
5
Accepted date
2023-05-30
Submitted date
2022-11-21

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Collection(s)

Water
Agricultural practices, equipment, and technology

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