Naslov
Detection of Plastics in Soil - Prevalence, Origins and Effects

Autori
Braun, Ulrike ; Bachem, Gunnar ; Müller, Axel ; Kittner, Maria ; Altmann, Korinna ; Meierdierks, Jana ; Grathwohl, Peter ; Lackmann, Carina ; Šimić, Antonio ; Velki, Mirna ; Hollert, Hener

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Abstract Book SETAC Europe 32nd Annual Meeting / - , 2022, 303-304

Skup
ETAC Europe 32th Annual Meeting

Mjesto i datum
Kopenhagen, Danska, 15.-19.05.2022

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
plastics ; soil ; ecotoxicological tests

Sažetak
Soil acts as a final sink for pollutants. Microplastics from different sources such as plastic mulching, littering, compost, sewage sludge, sedimentary deposition, and tyre abrasion are expected to be found in soil. However, representative and comprehensive information is missing on the sources, transport, and fate. Therefore, a reliable analysis method for microplastics in soils needs to be developed. [1]The work presented here describes the development of a procedure for microplastics analysis in soil. A representative sampling based on the on-site conditions and a sample preparation method were established including a drying step, the separation of microplastic particles > 1 mm, and a density separation for particles < 1 mm. The detection of the large microplastic particles (> 1 mm) was conducted with Attenuated Total Reflection - Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR- FTIR), while Thermal Extraction Desorption - Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) [2] was applied for particles < 1 mm, gaining information on the type of polymer and mass fraction. Based on the established method, 14 environmental soil samples with different exposure to microplastics from agriculture, industrial sites, roads, and floods were investigated. High contents of small microplastic particles (< 1 mm) were discovered in the soil samples exposed to plastic mulching, fertilization with sewage sludge or compost (0 – 115 mg/kg). On average, microplastic contents detected in soil samples taken from a construction site and an inner-city lake were higher (13 – 238 mg/kg). As expected, microplastic contents in soil sampled in proximity to roads was more pronounced in the upper soil layers. In contrast, very remote sampling sites, believed to be uncontaminated, did not lead to the detection of microplastics by TED-GC/MS.In a proof of concept experiment several in vivo and in vitro ecotoxicological tests were applied to evaluate the effect of microplastics (tyre abrasion, polystyrene containing hexabromocyclododecane) in natural soils. In summary, while no effects of the examined probes could be detected on higher levels of biological organization after exposures to earthworm E. andrei, significant changes in several oxidative stress related biomarkers were observed.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

POVEZANOST RADA