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Booming microplastics generation in landfill: An exponential evolution process under temporal pattern.

Qiujie Huang1, Zhaowen Cheng1, Changfu Yang1

  • 1School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.

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|September 6, 2022
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Summary

Landfill waste generates microplastics (MPs) exponentially over time. Polyethylene (PE) shows the highest MP generation rate, driven by oxidation and microbial activity, indicating a critical risk during landfill reclamation.

Keywords:
BiodegradationDynamic evolution processExponential increaseGeneration rateLandfillMicroplastics distribution

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Geochemistry
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Landfills serve as primary sinks for plastic waste and significant sources of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial environments.
  • The complex stabilization processes within landfills obscure the dynamic generation of MPs, hindering risk assessment and mitigation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary process of microplastic generation in a partitioned landfill with over 30 years of disposal history.
  • To quantify the exponential increase in MPs with landfill age and determine polymer-specific generation rates.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of microplastic evolution in landfilled waste with documented disposal ages.
  • Quantification of microplastic abundance and polymer types (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene).
  • Assessment of carbonyl index for oxidation and microbial abundance in the plastisphere.

Main Results:

  • Microplastic occurrence increased exponentially with landfill age, from 71.3 to 653.1 items/(g plastic).
  • Polyethylene (PE) exhibited the highest annual generation rate (28.4 items/(g plastic)/year), followed by polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS).
  • Increased carbonyl index and a threefold rise in plastic-degrading microbes suggest oxidation and biodegradation contribute to fragmentation.

Conclusions:

  • Landfill age is a critical factor driving exponential microplastic generation.
  • Oxidation and microbial biodegradation are significant drivers of plastic fragmentation in long-term landfill environments.
  • Understanding these dynamics is crucial for managing microplastic risks during landfill reclamation.