Microplastics of tires and facades end up in garden beds – Diepresse.com
The amount of microplastics that reaches Europe’s floors annually corresponds to the plastic content in the oceans. Urban floors are particularly affected. How this affects climate protection and food production is tested at Boku Vienna.
In the city, the concentration of microplastics in the soil is ten times higher than in rural areas. These are bad news for urban gardens and community beds. « If soil life is disturbed by microplastics, the influence on its biodiversity, and that has consequences for its functionality and vitality, » says Katharina Keiblinger of the Boku Vienna. However, a healthy soil is around and open in order to be able to intercept extreme weather events.
« In terms of size, this is huge, » said the soil researcher. « In Europe, as much microplastics end up in the ground every year as there is in the overall in the oceans. » Keiblinger refers to the elementary ecosystem services of soils such as food production, nutrient cycle and water storage. For the latter, the soil structure is central, which can be impaired by plastic particles. « In a dry phase, this means that too little water is available for the plants. In the case of heavy rain, the water cannot be absorbed well. »
