Plastic pollution is widespread, even contaminating fruit and vegetables. Microplastics are found everywhere, from ocean depths to drinking water, with an estimated 24.4 trillion fragments in the upper oceans.
A major source of land contamination is the use of sewage sludge as fertiliser, making European farmland a huge microplastic reservoir. These plastics persist in soil for decades, leaching toxic chemicals and potentially harming soil health by affecting organisms like earthworms.
Crucially, microplastics are now found in food crops, particularly root vegetables, raising concerns about human consumption. While the full health impact is unclear, chemicals in plastics are linked to various health issues, and ingested microplastics can cause cell damage and inflammation.
Some areas have banned sewage sludge use, but a complete ban poses challenges. Better management, like identifying high-contamination areas and exploring alternative disposal methods such as incineration for energy or biofuel, is crucial. Further research is needed to understand the long-term environmental and health consequences.
Stay tuned to read more in The Deep Reach of Micro-Contamination as we will explore further in the coming articles!