A systematic review of the occurrence of microplastics in compost: Understanding the abundance, sources, characteristics and ecological risk
Despite the environmental benefits of composting, recent studies worldwide have highlighted the emergence of microplastics (MPs) in compost, posing a potential threat to soil health. This systematic review summarizes existing research on MPs pollution in compost, emphasizing abundance, sources, char...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024018826 |
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| author | Nasim Nourozi Tooraj Massahi Monireh Nouri Maryam Mardani Hooshyar Hossini |
| author_facet | Nasim Nourozi Tooraj Massahi Monireh Nouri Maryam Mardani Hooshyar Hossini |
| author_sort | Nasim Nourozi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite the environmental benefits of composting, recent studies worldwide have highlighted the emergence of microplastics (MPs) in compost, posing a potential threat to soil health. This systematic review summarizes existing research on MPs pollution in compost, emphasizing abundance, sources, characteristics, potential ecological risks, and future perspectives. 19 studies from different countries, mostly China, were included in the review. Compost types analyzed included animal manures, sewage sludge, municipal solid waste (MSW), and organic solid waste. Fibers, fragments, and films were the most common shapes, and most of these MPs were between 0.5 to 3 mm in size. Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are among the most frequently identified polymers. MPs abundance ranged from 0 to 2.88 × 105 items/kg, with the highest levels in chicken manure and animal/plant mixtures. Primary MPs sources were MSW, sewage sludge, animal manure and plant residues. Using the Hazard Index (H), the ecological risk assessment revealed a high risk (H > 100) for certain composts. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of MPs in compost on soil health and ecosystem functioning. Waste management and treatment processes need to be improved to reduce MPs pollution in compost raw materials. This review highlights the growing problem of MPs in compost and the need for targeted mitigation strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4779c2b458d44edbb52c817d5063fea6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-4779c2b458d44edbb52c817d5063fea62024-12-19T11:00:13ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302024-12-0124103639A systematic review of the occurrence of microplastics in compost: Understanding the abundance, sources, characteristics and ecological riskNasim Nourozi0Tooraj Massahi1Monireh Nouri2Maryam Mardani3Hooshyar Hossini4Student research committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IranStudent research committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Research Institute for Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IranStudent research committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Research Institute for Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IranStudent Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranResearch Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Research Institute for Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; Corresponding author.Despite the environmental benefits of composting, recent studies worldwide have highlighted the emergence of microplastics (MPs) in compost, posing a potential threat to soil health. This systematic review summarizes existing research on MPs pollution in compost, emphasizing abundance, sources, characteristics, potential ecological risks, and future perspectives. 19 studies from different countries, mostly China, were included in the review. Compost types analyzed included animal manures, sewage sludge, municipal solid waste (MSW), and organic solid waste. Fibers, fragments, and films were the most common shapes, and most of these MPs were between 0.5 to 3 mm in size. Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are among the most frequently identified polymers. MPs abundance ranged from 0 to 2.88 × 105 items/kg, with the highest levels in chicken manure and animal/plant mixtures. Primary MPs sources were MSW, sewage sludge, animal manure and plant residues. Using the Hazard Index (H), the ecological risk assessment revealed a high risk (H > 100) for certain composts. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of MPs in compost on soil health and ecosystem functioning. Waste management and treatment processes need to be improved to reduce MPs pollution in compost raw materials. This review highlights the growing problem of MPs in compost and the need for targeted mitigation strategies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024018826CompostMicroplasticsLiterature ReviewEcological RiskSoil |
| spellingShingle | Nasim Nourozi Tooraj Massahi Monireh Nouri Maryam Mardani Hooshyar Hossini A systematic review of the occurrence of microplastics in compost: Understanding the abundance, sources, characteristics and ecological risk Results in Engineering Compost Microplastics Literature Review Ecological Risk Soil |
| title | A systematic review of the occurrence of microplastics in compost: Understanding the abundance, sources, characteristics and ecological risk |
| title_full | A systematic review of the occurrence of microplastics in compost: Understanding the abundance, sources, characteristics and ecological risk |
| title_fullStr | A systematic review of the occurrence of microplastics in compost: Understanding the abundance, sources, characteristics and ecological risk |
| title_full_unstemmed | A systematic review of the occurrence of microplastics in compost: Understanding the abundance, sources, characteristics and ecological risk |
| title_short | A systematic review of the occurrence of microplastics in compost: Understanding the abundance, sources, characteristics and ecological risk |
| title_sort | systematic review of the occurrence of microplastics in compost understanding the abundance sources characteristics and ecological risk |
| topic | Compost Microplastics Literature Review Ecological Risk Soil |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024018826 |
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