All about microplastic

1. REPRESENTED BY :
KIRAN YADAV
Department of Environmental science
MDU Rohtak

2. Presentation Content
 Introduction
 Objective
 Microplastic
 Classification of microplastic
 Source of microplastic
 Pathway of microplastic
 Effect of microplastic
 Methodology
 Result
 Indian scenario
 Current research
 Discussion
 Conclusion

3. INTRODUCTION
 Plastic are synthetic polymers that are typically produced by
polymerization of monomers derived from extraction of oil and
gas. Microplastics come from a variety of sources, including
from larger plastic debris that degrades into smaller and smaller
pieces when it come in contact with UV radiations .
 MICROPLASTIC: “Microplastics are small plastic particles, of
less than 5 mm in size”.
 The size definition of microplastics was discussed at the first
international research workshop on the occurrence, effects and
fate of microplastic marine debris in 2008, hosted by NOAA .
 Microplastics represent potential threat for soil biota if
contamination would cause changes on the soil habitat.

4. Objective :
 Isolation of microplastic from soil .
 To quantify microplastic in different soil matrix.

5. Classification of Microplastic
 Microplastic mainly classified into two types :
1. Primary microplastic
2. Secondary microplastic
 Primary microplastic : Primary microplastics are small pieces of
plastic that are purposefully manufactured. Primary
microplastics also include industrial abrasives or “scrubbers”
used to blast clean surfaces, plastic powders used in modeling,
particles used in drilling fluids for oil and gas exploration, and
also raw materials used for plastic fabrication for many industrial
applications.
 Secondary microplastic : Secondary plastics are small pieces of
plastic derived from the breakdown of larger plastic debris .

6. Source of Microplastic +
1. Cosmetics industry
2. Clothing
3. Manufacturing
4. Fishing industry
5. Packaging and shipping
6. Plastic water bottles

7. Pathway of Microplastic
 Sewage sludge -A widespread practice
which is an important source of primary
microplastics contamination in soil is
the application of sewage sludge from
municipal wastewater treatment plants
as a fertiliser for agricultural land. It is
estimated that annual additions of
microplastics to agricultural land in
Europe are between 125 and 850 tonnes
of microplastics/million inhabitants.
 Controlled-release fertilisers (CRF) -
The N, P and K nutrient combinations
are encapsulated within a nutrient pill, a
coating made with a polymer. The
coating allows the fertiliser to diffuse
into the soil over a given time period.
While the technology offers a number of
benefits for agriculture, it also represents
an important source of microplastics
contamination.

8.  Plastic mulching – Plastic
mulching is the use of plastic films
on crops acting as insulation to
protect seedlings and shoots. Plastic
mulches are generally made of
polyethylene (PE) which does not
degrade well in the soil and
therefore is associated with
discharges of plastic residues. In
some cases, plastic mulches are
made with oxo-plastics. When used
for this purpose, littering may
increase as oxo-plastics are sold to
farmers as products not to be
collected after use.
 Plastic greenhouses – Among the
plastics used for agricultural
purposes, plastics covering green-
houses have been identified as a
source of plastic litter on land.

9.  Plastics in compost – Organic
fertilisers obtained from household
and industry recycled bio-waste are
increasingly being applied on
agricultural land . Recent studies
have shown that the use of bio-
waste as a source of fertiliser
represents a potential source of
microplastics contamination in
terrestrial environments. This is due
to the fact most bio-waste from
households and industry contains
plastics .For instance, an
investigation carried out by the
Italian Composting Council showed
that organic waste collected in Italy
had an average contamination of
4.9%, with non-compostable
plastics representing the principal
material found.

10. Effect of Microplastic
 EFFECT OF MICROPLASTIC
ON EARTHWORM:
Earthworm known as the friend of
farmer because of they improve the
soil health but now a days
earthworm is effected by the
microplastic . microplastic
accumulate in the gut and stomach
of earthworm , which further
affect the feeding behavior and
development of earthworm . The
effect of microplastic on the weight
and mortality , growth , ingestion
and reproduction .

11.  EFFECT OF
MICROPLASTIC ON
PLANTS: Microplastic
effect the both vegetative
and reproductive process
of plant cluster formation
of microplastic occurred
arround the plant root
which prohibit the uptake
of nutrient .

12.  Effect of microplastic
on soil structure :
Microplastics affected
the bulk density, water
holding capacity, and the
functional relationship
between the microbial
activity and water stable
aggregater .

13. MICROPLASTIC IN FOOD CHAIN:
Broad changes in continental
environments are possible even in
particle‐rich habitats such as soils.
Furthermore, there is a growing body
of evidence indicating that
microplastics interact with terrestrial
organisms that mediate essential
ecosystem services and functions, such
as soil dwelling invertebrates,
terrestrial fungi, and plant‐pollinators.
Therefore, research is needed to clarify
the terrestrial fate and effects of
microplastics. We suggest that due to
the widespread presence,
environmental persistence, and various
interactions with continental biota,
microplastic pollution might represent
an emerging global change threat to
terrestrial ecosystems.

14. Methodology
 Two step strategies is adopted which explained below :
1. Isolation of microplastic from soil sample : By increasing the
Density of water we seprated easily microplastic from soil . for
increasing the density of water we used the salts like sodium
chloride , zinc chloride and sodium iodied . soil and other
inorganic compounds were settel down and microplastic and some
organic matter were floating on the surface of water . We used
whatman filter paper no 4 for filteration of microplastic . Note
down the weight of filter paper before filteration of microplastic .
Then filter the microplastic and dry this filter paper in oven at 70⁰C
for 2 -3 hours .
2. Method for determing the amount of organic content : Some
organic content remain with microplastic . To calculate the organic
content we used the walkley black method .

15.  Formula to calculate microplastic :
Weight of microplastic (g) = weight of filter paper with
sample (g) – weight of Filter paper (g) – organic content
(g)

16. Results
Sr. No. Sample site Weight of
filter paper
with sample
(g)
Weight of
filter paper
(g)
Organic
content (g)
Amount of
microplastic
isolated per
10g of soil(g)
Amount of
microplastic
per Kg of soil
sample(g)
1. Outside the MSW 3.987 1.3071 1.81 0.869 86.9
2. Compost from
MSW
4.738 1.3484 3.31 0.0796 7.96
3. Inside the MSW 3.8589 1.2786 2.327 0.253 25.3
4. Near the canal side 4.07 1.1206 2.068 0.8814 88.14
5. Near the road side 3.834 1.2346 2.534 0.0654 6.54
6. Outside the hotel 4.3945 1.3862 2.068 0.9403 94.03
7. University campus
dumping site
4.7861 1.4161 2.379 0.991 99.1

17.  We find that the maximum amount of microplastic in
university campus dumping site is 99.1g per 1kg of soil
 We collected sample from different sites, we find out
the amount of microplastic in following order :
University campus > Hotel site > Canal side >
Outside the MSW> Inside the MSW> Near road
side> Compost of MSW.

18. Indian Scenario

19. Current Research

20. Disscussion
 During the analysis we find out conc. of microplastic is
highest in university campus dumping site then the MSW
site Rohtak . Behind it main reason is that waste of
university is processed every day but due to mismangement
some plastic pollutants left behind on dumping site which
is come in contact with UV radiation and decoposed in a
short time period . On other hand , long time period has
taken in processing of MSW site waste. So it take longer
time period in degradation .
 Conc. of microplastic is lowest in compost sample which
taken from MSW site because during the processing of
waste recyclable plastic waste is seprate out .

21. Conclusion
 Microplastic originated from the fragmentation of the large plastic
litters or from diect environmental emmision . We study that
microplastic pollution is a potential threat to the soil flora , funna and
intertidal food web . we collected samples from differenet sites in
which conc. of microplastic is highest in university dumping site
sample and lowest conc. in sample collected from compost of the MSW
site . Although university campus is decleared as clean and green
campus , the main reason of highest amount of microplastic is
mismangement during the collection of waste from dumping site . At
MSW site proper segregation process is adopted .
 Rapid increase of plastic pollution in the soil required attention for
mitigation plastic pollution in the soils of different location and
regions by using various mechnaisums such as adopted the segregation
processin a proper manner , bans on the plastic bags , using 3R ( reduce
, reuse , recycle ) process , educational awarness .

22. Any Question ?????

23. THANKYOU