Are Agricultural Soils Dumps for Microplastics of Urban Origin?

By L. Nizzetto, M. Futter, S. Langaas. Environmental Science and Technology, 2016

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Microplastics accumulate on pores in seed capsule and delay germination and root growth of the terrestrial vascular plant Lepidium sativum. (2019, background): “Terrestrial emissions of microplastics in industrialized countries predominantly originate from application of sewage sludge to farmlands (Nizzetto et al., 2016).”
Microplastic fiber and drought effects on plants and soil are only slightly modified by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (2020, background): “The filtered particles are retained in the sewage sludge, which is used as fertilizer in large quantities (Nizzetto et al., 2016; van den Berg et al., 2020).”
Microplastic prevalence in two fish species in two U.S. reservoirs (2020, background): “2018) and agricultural soils have the potential to be a source of microplastics (Nizzetto et al. 2016).”
Wear and Tear of Tyres: A Stealthy Source of Microplastics in the Environment (2017, methodology): “Nizzetto and colleagues [66], estimated that 50% of the WWTP sludge in Europe and North America is used as a fertiliser on farmland.”