Microplastics – Effects on Soil Water Repellency and Capillary Flow Studied

The abstract of a July 26, 2022 Vadose Zone Journal article https://doi.org/10.1002/vzj2.20215 by researchers with Switzerland ETH Zurich, Germany Univ. of Bayreuth and Switzerland Paul-Scherrer-Institut reports that “… little is known about the implications of MP on soil physical properties. We hypothesize that low wettability of MP induces soil water repellency, depending on MP content and size of MP and soil particles. We quantified wettability of mixtures of MP and sand ... We conclude, in regions with high MP content. water infiltration and thus MP transport are hindered. Local low wettability induced by MP is expected to limit soil wettability and impede capillary rise …” #MicroPlastics #PlasticWaste #SingleUsePlastic @ETH_en