Emiplast SoS

Are we satisfied - yes. But we still hope for at least three more papers to be published in the near future...

And finally, we published the results of the experiments on different bio-agents biodegradation of polystirene microplastic particles. We realised that insects like Tenebrio monitor larvae could perform ver efficient deterioration of polystyrene, releasing frass that still contains of same polymer, but in the size of . We decided to offer these particles to the white rot fungi and see if the exoenzymes that are normally involved in lignin degradation could further degrade polystyrene, after the influence of T. molitor. Here we present some very promising results:

Tenebrio molitor Could Be an Efficient Pre-Treatment Bioagent for Polystyrene Initial Deterioration and Further Application of Pleurotus eryngii and Trametes versicolor in Microplastic Biodegradation Plastic is a major organic pollutant globally but has only recently been recognized for its recalcitrant nature and resistance to degradation. Although vast amounts of plastic debris are overwhelming the planet, the search for solutions to its degradation has only recently begun. One of the most wel...

After a long wait for a response from another journal, we were forced to withdraw the manuscript and try to publish elsewhere. And here we present the efficient, inexpensive and environmentally friendly protocol for extraction from the soils.

Upgraded Protocol for Microplastics’ Extraction from the Soil Matrix by Sucrose Density Gradient Centrifugation As land plastic pollution has piled up in recent decades, small products of its degradation, microplastics (MPs), have emerged as a rapidly growing problem in soil environments. The first step in MP evaluation from soils is the extraction of MP particles, and it appears to be a particularly difficul...

The second paper concerned a similar approach, but in alluvial agriculture soils:

Changes in Soil Properties Under the Influence of Microplastics in Plastic and Open Field Production in Three Serbian Valleys Crop production in plastic greenhouses is one of the major sources of plastic pollution worldwide. The main hypothesis of this study is that the regular use of mulch film in greenhouses leads to the cumulative accumulation of microplastic particles (MPs) in the soil, which ultimately leads to change...

In our first paper, we investigated the changes that were connected to the increased presence of in alluvial forest soils in Serbia. Our goal was to evaluate the damage that illegal dumping can cause on soil properties. Please, find out the outcomes here:

Impact of Microplastics on Forest Soil Properties in Pollution Hotspots in Alluvial Plains of Large Rivers (Morava, Sava, and Danube) of Serbia Plastic pollution has become a major environmental problem, while the products of its degradation, microplastics (MPs), appear everywhere on Earth. Data on MPs in agricultural soils have appeared lately, but a significant knowledge gap exists regarding forest soils. In Serbia, municipal waste is oft...

Project SoS was approved the prolongation period of 6 months to get the results published, and here we present publications that came out in this very tight deadline.

The first paper resulting from our project is out! Please read how influences soil parameters in the most endangered forest ecosystems in Serbia (and wider).
This is the first paper from the PhD thesis of Tara Grujić. Stay tuned for more!

Impact of Microplastics on Forest Soil Properties in Pollution Hotspots in Alluvial Plains of Large Rivers (Morava, Sava, and Danube) of Serbia Plastic pollution has become a major environmental problem, while the products of its degradation, microplastics (MPs), appear everywhere on Earth. Data on MPs in agricultural soils have appeared lately, but a significant knowledge gap exists regarding forest soils. In Serbia, municipal waste is oft...

The plasticulture waste on the bank of the small river in the South of Serbia - near our agriculture sampling site. Let's see what happens with fungal communities...

Dr Zaklina Marjanovic had the first presentation on EMIPLAST SoS project in 22nd World Congress of Soil Sciences in Glasgow (31.07. -05.08. 2022).

sampling has started! Sava, South Morava and Danube river planes selected sites (in Serbia) were sampled for soil characterization, microplastic quantification, and fungal communities evaluation; traps placed for insect communities evaluation. DNA will be isolated from soil samples, and meta-barcoding methods applied for determining the influence of microplastics on soil organisms.

We will presumably compare the microplastic fate in the agricultural (disturbed) and forest (natural) soils of the same type and follow the influence on distinct part of soil biodiversity: insect and fungal communities. Both organism groups are known to influence plastic degradation, but have never been explored in natural environments. We expect to provide insight on plastic amendment on environments, soil fertility, agroeconomy, yield, and environmental safety. Special goal is to educate farmers and citizens from rural areas on the danger that uncontrolled waste deposition in natural and agricultural environment brings.