Macro-, meso- and microplastic (MAP, MEP, MP) occurrence in compost is an environmental issue whose extent and effects are not yet understood. Here, we studied the occurrence of MAPs, MEPs and MPs in compost samples, and the transfer of hazardous contaminants from plastics to compost and soil. MAPs/MEPs and MPs concentrations in compost were 6.5 g/kg and 6.6 ± 1.5 pieces/kg; from common recommendations for compost application, we estimated ∼4-23 × 10⁷ pieces MPs and 4-29 × 10⁴ g MAPs/MEPs ha^-1 per year ending into agricultural soils fertilized with such compost. Regarding contaminants, bis(ethylhexyl) phthalate, acetyl tributyl citrate, dodecane and nonanal were extracted in higher concentrations from plastics and plastic-contaminated compost than from compost where MAPs/MEPs had been removed prior to extraction and analysis. However, some contaminants were present even after MAPs/MEPs removal, ascribable to short- and long-term release by MAPs/MEPs, and to the presence of MPs. DEHP concentration was higher in soils where compost was applied than in fields where it was not used. These results, along with estimations of plastic load to soil from the use of compost, show that compost application is a source of plastic pollution into agricultural fields, and that plastic might transfer hazardous contaminants to soil.

Decrease of adsorbable organic chlorine (AOX) is becoming the most important criterion for the efficiency of pulp mill effluent treatment in the 1990s. Two methods, designated MYCOR and MYCOPOR which utilize the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium have earlier been developed for the color removal of pulp mill effluents, but the processes have also a capacity to decrease the amount of chlorinated organic compounds. Lignin peroxidases (ligninases) produced by P. chrvsosporium may dechlorinate chlorinated phenols. In this work possibilities to use selected white-rot fungi in the treatment of E₁-stage bleach plant effluent were studied. Phlebia radiata. Phanerochaete chrvsosporium and Merulius (Phlebia) tremellosus were compared in shake flasks for their ability to produce laccase, lignin peroxidase(s) and manganese-dependent peroxidase(s) and to remove color from a medium containing effluent. Softwood bleaching effluents were treated by carrier-immobilized P. radiata in 2 1 bioreactors and a 10 1 Biostat^R -fermentor. Dechlorination was followed using Cl ion and AOX determinations. All fungi removed the color of the effluent. In P. radiata cultivations AOX decrease was ca. 4 mg l⁻¹ in one day. Apparent lignin peroxidase activities as determined by veratryl alcohol oxidation method were negligible or zero in a medium with AOX content of ca. 60 mg l⁻¹, prepared using about 20 % (v/v) of softwood effluent. However, the purification of extracellular enzymes implied that large amounts of lignin peroxidases were present in the medium and, after the purification, in active form. Enzyme proteins were separated using anion exchange chromatography, and they were further characterized by electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to reveal the kind of enzymes that were present during AOX decrease and color removal. The most characteristic lignin peroxidase isoenzymes in effluent media were LiP2 and LiP3.