Microplastics rife in British soil ‘because of sewage reuse’

BRITAIN has the highest level of microplastics in agricultural soils in Europe because farmers are encouraged to use recycled sewage to fertilise fields, academics have warned.

A Europe-wide study by Cardiff and Manchester universities found each year, on average, 500 to 1,000 microplastic particles are spread on to each square metre of UK farmland.

In contrast, Spain, France and Germany have about 100 to 499 particles in the same size areas of their fields.

British agricultural policies encourage the use of sewage sludge for fertilising farmers’ fields. Between 61 and 75 per cent of UK waste is recycled in this way to avoid landfill or incineration.

Researchers estimated 1 per cent of the weight of sludge is microplastics, meaning up to 42,000 tons – or 710 trillion microplastic particles – is applied across agricultural soils in Europe each year. This concentration is similar to that found floating in ocean water.

Experts warned microplastics pose a significant threat to wildlife as they are easily ingested and can carry contaminants, toxic chemicals and hazardous pathogens. They can also be absorbed by plants, potentially impacting the food chain.

In the study, the team took samples from the Nash Wastewater Treatment Plant in Newport, South Wales.

James Lofty, a doctoral student at Cardiff’s School of Engineering and lead author of the study, said: “At present, there is currently no European legislation that limits or controls microplastic input into recycled sewage sludge based on the loads and toxicity of microplastic exposure.

“Efforts should be made to increase standardised monitoring of microplastic concentrations in sewage sludge and agricultural soils, which would provide a more accurate picture of contamination levels in soils across Europe.”

The research was published in the journal