Effect of microplastics in sludge impacts on the vermicomposting
To investigate the effect of microplastics (MPs) particles in vermicomposting, polyethylene (PE) particles added into sludge showed that the vermicumposting with high MPs addition obtained lower removal efficiencies for organics than the verMicomposted with low MPs addition.
Abstract
To investigate the effect of microplastics (MPs) particles in vermicomposting, polyethylene (PE) particles added into sludge. Results showed that the vermicomposting with high MPs addition obtained lower removal efficiencies for organics than the vermicomposting with low MPs addition. The content of DOC and NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N in M<sub>4</sub> reactor (with the highest MPs addition) at 80 days was 8.4 mg/kg and 74.2 mg/kg, respectively. The pH, C/N, electrical conductivity (EC), and germination index (GI) results showed that the addition amount of MPs was directly proportional to the negative effect of composting. The negative effect mainly occurred after 20 days of composting. High MPs addition resulted in apparent oxidative stress and neurotoxicity on earthworm, the values of catalase (CAT) and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) in M<sub>4</sub> reactor increased by 2.03 times and 1.60 times. The bacteria in M<sub>4</sub> were more barren and lower in terms of diversity.