Home > Research > Publications & Outputs > Agricultural fertilisers contribute substantial...

Research

Links

Text available via DOI:

View graph of relations

Agricultural fertilisers contribute substantially to microplastic concentrations in UK soils

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Published

Standard

Agricultural fertilisers contribute substantially to microplastic concentrations in UK soils. / Cusworth, Samuel J.; Davies, William J.; McAinsh, Martin R. et al.
In: Communications Earth & Environment, Vol. 5, No. 1, 7, 02.01.2024.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Cusworth, SJ, Davies, WJ, McAinsh, MR, Gregory, AS, Storkey, J & Stevens, CJ 2024, 'Agricultural fertilisers contribute substantially to microplastic concentrations in UK soils', Communications Earth & Environment, vol. 5, no. 1, 7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01172-y

APA

Cusworth, S. J., Davies, W. J., McAinsh, M. R., Gregory, A. S., Storkey, J., & Stevens, C. J. (2024). Agricultural fertilisers contribute substantially to microplastic concentrations in UK soils. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01172-y

Vancouver

Cusworth SJ, Davies WJ, McAinsh MR, Gregory AS, Storkey J, Stevens CJ. Agricultural fertilisers contribute substantially to microplastic concentrations in UK soils. Communications Earth & Environment. 2024 Jan 2;5(1):7. doi: 10.1038/s43247-023-01172-y

Author

Cusworth, Samuel J. ; Davies, William J. ; McAinsh, Martin R. et al. / Agricultural fertilisers contribute substantially to microplastic concentrations in UK soils. In: Communications Earth & Environment. 2024 ; Vol. 5, No. 1.

Bibtex

@article{c0898e0487fd4d87976c92eede61a89f,
title = "Agricultural fertilisers contribute substantially to microplastic concentrations in UK soils",
abstract = "Since their invention, plastics have driven a revolution in behavior in all aspects of our lives, including agriculture. In-use and as a waste material, plastics degrade and accumulate in agricultural systems. Accumulation of plastic pollution in agricultural systems has negative impacts on human health and agricultural productivity but little is known about concentrations of microplastics in soils. Here we used a historical time series to examine changes to microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils over time. Microplastics were stained with Nile Red and quantified using fluorescence microscopy. We demonstrate that microplastic concentrations increased at higher rates in soils that are amended with either organic or inorganic fertiliser between 1966 and 2022, suggesting that agricultural fertilisers are an important contributor to microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils over time. This study provides evidence that agricultural soils are receptors and reservoirs of microplastic pollution, a legacy which is growing over time.",
author = "Cusworth, {Samuel J.} and Davies, {William J.} and McAinsh, {Martin R.} and Gregory, {Andrew S.} and Jonathan Storkey and Stevens, {Carly J.}",
year = "2024",
month = jan,
day = "2",
doi = "10.1038/s43247-023-01172-y",
language = "English",
volume = "5",
journal = "Communications Earth & Environment",
issn = "2662-4435",
publisher = "Nature Research",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Agricultural fertilisers contribute substantially to microplastic concentrations in UK soils

AU - Cusworth, Samuel J.

AU - Davies, William J.

AU - McAinsh, Martin R.

AU - Gregory, Andrew S.

AU - Storkey, Jonathan

AU - Stevens, Carly J.

PY - 2024/1/2

Y1 - 2024/1/2

N2 - Since their invention, plastics have driven a revolution in behavior in all aspects of our lives, including agriculture. In-use and as a waste material, plastics degrade and accumulate in agricultural systems. Accumulation of plastic pollution in agricultural systems has negative impacts on human health and agricultural productivity but little is known about concentrations of microplastics in soils. Here we used a historical time series to examine changes to microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils over time. Microplastics were stained with Nile Red and quantified using fluorescence microscopy. We demonstrate that microplastic concentrations increased at higher rates in soils that are amended with either organic or inorganic fertiliser between 1966 and 2022, suggesting that agricultural fertilisers are an important contributor to microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils over time. This study provides evidence that agricultural soils are receptors and reservoirs of microplastic pollution, a legacy which is growing over time.

AB - Since their invention, plastics have driven a revolution in behavior in all aspects of our lives, including agriculture. In-use and as a waste material, plastics degrade and accumulate in agricultural systems. Accumulation of plastic pollution in agricultural systems has negative impacts on human health and agricultural productivity but little is known about concentrations of microplastics in soils. Here we used a historical time series to examine changes to microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils over time. Microplastics were stained with Nile Red and quantified using fluorescence microscopy. We demonstrate that microplastic concentrations increased at higher rates in soils that are amended with either organic or inorganic fertiliser between 1966 and 2022, suggesting that agricultural fertilisers are an important contributor to microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils over time. This study provides evidence that agricultural soils are receptors and reservoirs of microplastic pollution, a legacy which is growing over time.

U2 - 10.1038/s43247-023-01172-y

DO - 10.1038/s43247-023-01172-y

M3 - Journal article

VL - 5

JO - Communications Earth & Environment

JF - Communications Earth & Environment

SN - 2662-4435

IS - 1

M1 - 7

ER -