Microplastic emissions via air and compost from an industrial composting facility in England

Raulin Zapata; Philippa Douglas; K. L.Andrew Chan; Benjamin Barratt; Stephanie L. Wright

doi:10.1080/26395940.2023.2296046

Microplastic emissions via air and compost from an industrial composting facility in England

Raulin Zapata, Philippa Douglas^*, K. L.Andrew Chan, Benjamin Barratt, Stephanie L. Wright^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Composting provides a sustainable method of processing biodegradable waste but is often contaminated with plastic. We quantified and characterised microplastics in air and compost samples from an industrial aerobic green waste composting facility in England. Compost samples were taken at different stages of the process; air samples were taken onsite, upwind, and downwind. Microplastics were found in compost from all stages of the process at levels comparable to those reported for marine sediments; higher concentrations were found in the screening stages of the composting process (mean 9.0 (IQR: 7.1) and 9.0 (IQR: 7.4) MPs 5 g-1 (dw), for 30 mm and 10 mm screened material, respectively). Airborne microplastics were found onsite (32–49 MP m⁻³), upwind (1 MP m⁻³) and downwind (3 MP m⁻³). Composting facilities represent a potential source of microplastics and point of entry to the wider environment. Further investigation into other sites and processes is warranted.

Original language	English
Article number	2296046
Journal	Environmental Pollutants and Bioavailability
Volume	36
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/26395940.2023.2296046
Publication status	Published - 2024

Keywords

agriculture
air quality
airborne microplastic
compost
Microplastic
soil
waste

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1080/26395940.2023.2296046

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title = "Microplastic emissions via air and compost from an industrial composting facility in England",

abstract = "Composting provides a sustainable method of processing biodegradable waste but is often contaminated with plastic. We quantified and characterised microplastics in air and compost samples from an industrial aerobic green waste composting facility in England. Compost samples were taken at different stages of the process; air samples were taken onsite, upwind, and downwind. Microplastics were found in compost from all stages of the process at levels comparable to those reported for marine sediments; higher concentrations were found in the screening stages of the composting process (mean 9.0 (IQR: 7.1) and 9.0 (IQR: 7.4) MPs 5 g-1 (dw), for 30 mm and 10 mm screened material, respectively). Airborne microplastics were found onsite (32–49 MP m−3), upwind (1 MP m−3) and downwind (3 MP m−3). Composting facilities represent a potential source of microplastics and point of entry to the wider environment. Further investigation into other sites and processes is warranted.",

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author = "Raulin Zapata and Philippa Douglas and Chan, {K. L.Andrew} and Benjamin Barratt and Wright, {Stephanie L.}",

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AU - Zapata, Raulin

AU - Douglas, Philippa

AU - Chan, K. L.Andrew

AU - Barratt, Benjamin

AU - Wright, Stephanie L.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Composting provides a sustainable method of processing biodegradable waste but is often contaminated with plastic. We quantified and characterised microplastics in air and compost samples from an industrial aerobic green waste composting facility in England. Compost samples were taken at different stages of the process; air samples were taken onsite, upwind, and downwind. Microplastics were found in compost from all stages of the process at levels comparable to those reported for marine sediments; higher concentrations were found in the screening stages of the composting process (mean 9.0 (IQR: 7.1) and 9.0 (IQR: 7.4) MPs 5 g-1 (dw), for 30 mm and 10 mm screened material, respectively). Airborne microplastics were found onsite (32–49 MP m−3), upwind (1 MP m−3) and downwind (3 MP m−3). Composting facilities represent a potential source of microplastics and point of entry to the wider environment. Further investigation into other sites and processes is warranted.

AB - Composting provides a sustainable method of processing biodegradable waste but is often contaminated with plastic. We quantified and characterised microplastics in air and compost samples from an industrial aerobic green waste composting facility in England. Compost samples were taken at different stages of the process; air samples were taken onsite, upwind, and downwind. Microplastics were found in compost from all stages of the process at levels comparable to those reported for marine sediments; higher concentrations were found in the screening stages of the composting process (mean 9.0 (IQR: 7.1) and 9.0 (IQR: 7.4) MPs 5 g-1 (dw), for 30 mm and 10 mm screened material, respectively). Airborne microplastics were found onsite (32–49 MP m−3), upwind (1 MP m−3) and downwind (3 MP m−3). Composting facilities represent a potential source of microplastics and point of entry to the wider environment. Further investigation into other sites and processes is warranted.

KW - agriculture

KW - air quality

KW - airborne microplastic

KW - compost

KW - Microplastic

KW - soil

KW - waste

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DO - 10.1080/26395940.2023.2296046

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85180878824

SN - 2639-5932

VL - 36

JO - Environmental Pollutants and Bioavailability

JF - Environmental Pollutants and Bioavailability

IS - 1

M1 - 2296046

ER -

Microplastic emissions via air and compost from an industrial composting facility in England

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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