Microplastic Compact by Andreas Fath

Author:Andreas Fath
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783658328672
Publisher: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden

Microplastics enter our rivers and lakes in different ways. One can distinguish between direct and indirect ways into the water body. Especially because of industrial shipping, fishing or due to the consequences of tourism, plastics get into the water bodies consciously or unconsciously by direct routes. Sources of microplastics are granulates from plastics production, so it is possible that plastic granulates are accidentally released into the environment already during production or transport (Cole et al., 2011). This is proven by several granulate finds on sea beaches (Claessens et al., 2011; Rios et al., 2007). In the oceans, fishing nets that are no longer used or have been torn off are among the largest amounts of plastic waste found (Andrady, 2011). So-called “ghost nets” remain at the bottom of the water bodies and continue to catch fish after they have been sunk or lost (Moore, 2008; Lopez & Mouat, 2009). The indirect introduction of microplastics into a water body often occurs through the use of microplastically contaminated hygiene and care products. Through the domestic use of these products, plastic particles enter the sewage treatment plant via wastewater. Since adequate filtration in the sewage treatment plants cannot be implemented at present, the plastic particles reach our rivers and lakes almost unhindered (HELCOM BASE Project, 2014). For example, textile fibers made of polyester end up in the wastewater during every washing process. A study by Browne et al. (2011) showed that about 1900 plastic fibers are released per garment. However, plastic bags and plastic bottles are also sources of microplastics; they either end up directly in a water body or the plastic decomposes and smaller particles seep into the groundwater, thus entering the water body. For example, Zubris and Richards (2005) found minute plastic fibers in sewage sludge. In agriculture, sewage sludge is often used as a fertilizer for fields, and thus agricultural products come into direct contact with microplastics, or rain causes the particles to seep into the ground. Extreme weather conditions are also responsible for the entry of plastic particles. Heavy rainfall washes the particles into the water bodies via the sewerage system. Storms and strong winds transport finest particles into layers of earth atmosphere near ground level, thus microplastics can reach all imaginable places for kilometers (Liebezeit & Liebezeit, 2014).

It is not only sewage sludge that provides plastic fertilizer on German fields. A report in the programme Contrasts (Kontraste; ARD, 2015) led to general confusion among environmentally conscious consumers. Whether eggshells, fruit and vegetable waste, coffee grounds or wilted flowers, all these things belong in the bio-bins and can therefore be recycled as compost. The organic waste becomes a necessary cheap fertilizer for industrialized agriculture. Actually a sensible thing, but on closer inspection, it was found that the organic waste bin is the cause of environmental pollution with microplastics. Still too many plastics end up in the compost. When the compost is processed into fertilizer for agriculture, it is shredded for homogenization and then spread. The plastic is also shredded and also ends up on the fields.

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