Organic fertilizer as a vehicle for microplastic

The contamination of the environment with microplastic has emerged as a global challenge because it may pose risks to biota and public health. A study published in Science Advances investigates the potential of organic fertilizers as an entry path for microplastic particles. Results indicate that depending on pretreatment, organic fertilizers from biowaste fermentation and composting, as applied in agriculture and gardening worldwide, are a neglected source of microplastic in the environment. The study is based on an interdisciplinary collaboration headed by Prof. Dr. Ruth Freitag, Bioprocess Engineering, and Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch, Animal Ecology, at the University of Bayreuth.