Occurrence of microplastics in agricultural lands and their transfer to the marine environment

Abstract

The use of various plastic materials in agricultural production has been used to produce high-quality crops, save labor in agricultural work, and reduce environmental impact. On the other hand, the recent plastic waste problem has triggered a need to address new issues, such as proper disposal of plastic materials used in agricultural fields and prevention of runoff. In addition, microplastics (small pieces of plastic smaller than 5 mm) mixed in soil are attracting attention internationally as an emerging risk, and their effects on soil ecosystems and agricultural crops are being actively studied. This presentation will focus on primary microplastics derived from coated fertilizers used in agricultural fields and report the results of monitoring the transfer process from agricultural fields to the ocean.