Hidden contaminants: Unveiling the content of microplastics in municipal sewage sludge that may affect soil ecosystems
2025
Paulina Ormaniec | Tomasz P. Baczyński
This study quantifies the characterisation of microplastics present in sewage sludge from two different municipal wastewater treatment plants, focusing on their quantity, types, sizes, shapes and potential impact on soil ecosystems when sludge is used as a fertiliser. Advanced microscopic and spectroscopic techniques were employed to identify the physical and chemical properties of microplastics. The results demonstrated significant differences in microplastic characteristics between the analysed treatment plants. The average microplastic content was 13748 and 116307 particles per kilogram of dry sewage sludge. The first plant’s sludge was dominated by fibre-shaped microplastics with polyethylene terephthalate being the most common polymer. In contrast, the second plant exhibited a higher concentration of film-shape microplastics, with polyethylene as the dominant polymer. Both treatment plants are dominated by microplastics of smaller sizes (less than 1 mm). Literature suggests that these microplastics can increase the risk of bioaccumulation of harmful chemicals in the soil, potentially affecting soil and plant health. The study emphasizes the need for more research on the environmental impact of microplastics in sewage sludge and strategies to reduce their presence in wastewater. The findings could help inform new guidelines for the sustainable management of sewage sludge, reducing the environmental risks associated with microplastics contamination.
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