The contamination of the environment with microplastics has recently emerged as a global challenge. For years, compost has been widely used by novice gardeners and farmers alike to maintain and improve soil fertility, but little is known about microplastics in composts. The presence of microplastics within compost is an alarming environmental issue as there may be both environmental and human health risks associated with it. Similarly, road traffic emissions are an important source of tyre wear particles (TWP) in the environment. The friction caused by mechanical abrasion between tyres and road surfaces leads to the emission of TWP into the environment. Furthermore, artificial turf, running tracks, rubber mats, and many other surfaces are all made of used tyres and are known as tyre-derived products (TDP). As a result, TWP can be deposited on the road and then transported to soil and water, leading to soil and water pollution.
Tyre wear particles have not always been recognised as a microplastic, but have been detected in all environmental compartments, specifically air, soil, freshwater bodies, and the marine environment. During the transportation process, there is the potential for particles to break down further, leach the chemicals they contain, and absorb and re-release chemicals in the surrounding environment. Furthermore, particulate matter has the potential to cause physical harm if ingested by aquatic life or humans. This can be toxic if the microplastics penetrate cell membranes or are retained in the gut. Thus, this project presents the findings of microplastics in compost and will further provide the basis for conclusions about compost as a carrier of microplastics. In addition, the project will present the distribution and behaviour of TWP in road dust and sediment. Finally, knowledge gaps associated with microplastics and TWP pollution will be addressed.
Conference Outputs
Kaur, S., Rauert, C., Thomas, K. V. Quantification and identification of microplastics in compost using Pyrolysis GC-MS method. Queensland Mass Spectrometry Symposium, Brisbane, Australia,1 December-2 December 2022.
Awards and Prizes
- 2022 Queensland Mass Spectrometry Symposium (QMSS), Second place for Best Student Poster - Quantification and identification of microplastics in compost using Pyrolysis GC-MS method.
