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Microplastics in agricultural drainage water: A link between terrestrial and aquatic microplastic pollution

Bigalke, Moritz ; Fieber, Milo ; Foetisch, Alexandra ; Reynes, Julien ; Tollan, Peter (2022)
Microplastics in agricultural drainage water: A link between terrestrial and aquatic microplastic pollution.
In: Science of The Total Environment, 2021, 806
doi: 10.26083/tuprints-00022494
Article, Secondary publication, Publisher's Version

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Item Type: Article
Type of entry: Secondary publication
Title: Microplastics in agricultural drainage water: A link between terrestrial and aquatic microplastic pollution
Language: English
Date: 2022
Place of Publication: Darmstadt
Year of primary publication: 2021
Publisher: Elsevier
Journal or Publication Title: Science of The Total Environment
Volume of the journal: 806
Collation: 5 Seiten
DOI: 10.26083/tuprints-00022494
Corresponding Links:
Origin: Secondary publication service
Abstract:

Microplastic (MP) contamination has been reported to be higher in terrestrial compared to aquatic environments. This is probably due to the fact that plastic items are mostly produced and used in terrestrial environments and have a longer residence time. However, there are several links between the terrestrial and aquatic environments. We analyzed drainage water samples from agricultural soils in the Seeland, a heavily drained agriculturally intensive area in Switzerland for its MP (>100 μm) concentration and composition. We found MP in relevant numbers (mean 10.5 ± 9.5 N L−1). The polymers were mainly PA and PE, and the size distribution showed an exponential increase with decreasing particle size. The results show considerable MP concentrations in drainage water and imply a transport of MP in soils down to the drainage pipes. Given the large areas drained both in Switzerland and globally, it is proposed that MP leaching from soil can be a significant source of MP to aquatic ecosystems. Such a contribution should be considered when dealing with MP cycling on a local to global scale.

Uncontrolled Keywords: Microplastic, Soil, Surface water, Drainage, Agriculture, Transport
Status: Publisher's Version
URN: urn:nbn:de:tuda-tuprints-224944
Classification DDC: 500 Science and mathematics > 550 Earth sciences and geology
Divisions: 11 Department of Materials and Earth Sciences > Earth Science > Department of Soil Mineralogy and Soil Chemistry
Date Deposited: 18 Oct 2022 12:30
Last Modified: 26 Apr 2023 08:18
URI: https://tuprints.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/id/eprint/22494
PPN: 507243420
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