Landfill leachates in the Nordic countries low in microplastics
The Environment Agency Austria analyzed landfill leachates from Nordic countries for microplastics and tyre wear on behalf of the Swedish company AF. The results of the study were published by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
The results of the study were published by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Environment Agency Austria is known as a pioneer concerning analyses of microplastics. Therefore, Bettina Liebmann, expert for Environmental Analysis at the Environment Agency, designed the screening.
The report summarizes results from sampling and analysis of microplastics in leachates from a total of 11 landfills in Finland, Iceland and Norway. Polymer particles with an upper size limit of 5 mm and a lower limit of 50 μm (micrometres), were included. Most samples were tested positive for multiple microplastics. Compared to other quantified sources of microplastics such as raw or treated sewage, landfill leachates are likely to be a relatively small source of microplastic particles between 5000 and 50 µm.
