OP2330 Microfibres in soils: detection, degradation and impact

NERC ONE Planet DTP

Microplastic pollution is a global concern, with plastics now considered a marker of the Anthropocene. One of the major sources of microplastic pollution has been shown to be microfibres, released from clothing and other textile items. Much emphasis has been placed on the release of vast quantities of microfibres into our oceans through laundering. However, recent research has revealed the extent to which microplastics are shed from clothing and become incorporated into sewage sludge through wastewater treatment. This is a clear potential pathway for microfibre pollution of terrestrial environments (e.g. De Falco et al., 2020; Sheridan et al., 2020), with consequences for soil keystone species such as earthworms (Prendergast-Miller et al., 2019). Moreover, a focus on synthetic microfibres overlooks the abundance of naturally occurring microfibres in the environment e.g. cotton and wool. Although such microfibres are naturally occurring, they are often dyed with synthetic dyes and finished with chemical additives. Through degradation and chemical release, natural microfibres may also detrimentally impact the environment and its ecosystems. In this project, we will attempt to determine the effects of natural and synthetic microfibre pollution on soil ecosystem processes.

This multidisciplinary project will provide opportunities for skills training in state-of-the-art techniques bringing together expertise in microfibre/dye analysis (Dr Kelly Sheridan, Northumbria University), pollution degradation (Dr Anh Phan, Newcastle University), biogeochemistry/mass spectrometry (Dr Geoff Abbott, Newcastle University) and soil science and ecology (Dr Miranda Prendergast-Miller, Northumbria University). The student will have the opportunity to work closely with Case Partner Natural England who will provide access to soil samples collected across England as part of the England Ecosystem Survey within Defra’s Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme. Natural England will work with the student so that the project can contribute to national pollution monitoring and policy development. Natural England will also work collaboratively on soil-fauna-microfibre interactions. Combining research in microfibre detection and its fate in the environment will strengthen our ability to determine the level of risk posed by terrestrial microfibre pollution.

Key Research Gaps and Questions:

1. Can microfibres be accurately, robustly and rapidly detected and quantified in soil environments?
2. Do synthetically dyed microfibres chemically alter soil environments?
3. What impact does the degradation of chemically dyed microfibres have on soil communities?

Prerequisites:

A 1st class undergraduate / MSc degree in environmental science / chemistry with a strong analytical background. For more information, please contact Miranda Prendergast-Miller ([Email Address Removed]).