RODOLFO

RODOLFO – ROle of wilDfires on micrOpLastics in Forest sOils

The accumulation of microplastics poses a growing environmental threat to terrestrial ecosystems, with soil identified as the main global reservoir for these particles. Despite growing concerns about the effects of microplastics on soil properties and biotic communities, information on their abundance and distribution under real field conditions remains limited, especially in less studied environments such as grasslands and forests. Microplastics can be transported by wind and accumulate in forest soils, making further investigation of their effects in these ecosystems essential.

Fires in Mediterranean forests introduce an additional critical variable, as they can alter the physical-chemical composition of microplastics and influence their behavior within the soil. The main objective of this project is to analyze the impact of fires on the plastic cycle in forest soils, with particular attention to:

• the effects of combustion on microplastics and their chemical-physical properties;
• their mobility in the soil after exposure to fire;
• the consequences on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil.

To address these issues, the project adopts an integrated approach based on both laboratory experiments, aimed at developing predictive models of the effects of fire on microplastics, and field studies, which involve analyzing soil samples taken from fire-affected forests to characterize the distribution and transformation of microplastics. This study will provide new insights into the effects of microplastics in forest soils, contributing to more sustainable management of these threatened ecosystems.