Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste
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Microplastics PhD

“Microplastics and the water industry: studying source, transfer and fate within the microplastic cycle” 

This PhD will enhance our understanding of the microplastic (MP) cycle, with particular reference to the transfer of MPs from wastewater treatment (which produces a by-product known as biosolids), into the soil and onwards via the hydrological cycle.  

The aim of this PhD will be to determine whether the net impact of biosolid application to land is positive or negative in terms of soil function. We will study whether the presence of MPs in the biosolids and the potential for these pollutants to interact with soil biota and impact soil ecosystem services will offset the benefits and reduced costs (e.g. soil nutrient cycling, improved agricultural productivity) that biosolid application delivers.   

An additional aim will be to determine whether the presence of MPs in biosolids is likely to lead to accumulation of MPs in soil and / or an increase in the flux of MPs to aquatic (freshwater and marine) ecosystems. 

This project is novel as it combines ecotoxicology, soil science, geomorphology and hydrology to determine whether the presence of microplastics in biosolids that are applied to land is likely to pose a significant risk to the ecosystem services delivered by soils or whether those microplastics are likely to accumulate in the soil or move into aquatic systems. 

Team members

  • Thilakshani Atugoda, PhD Candidate
  • Professor Richard Brazier, Co-Director for CREWW;Professor of Earth Surface Processes
  • Dr Ceri Lewis, Associate Professor in Marine Biology (UoE)
  • Tony Griffiths, Wastewater Process Manager (SWW)

Funding and sponsorship

Publications