From Plastics to Micro- and Nano-Plastics: Mapping Agricultural Pollution Risk in a Mediterranean Region of Italy

Agricultural plastic waste (APW) is an emerging source of soil pollution and potential micro- and nano-plastic (MNP) contamination in agroecosystems. This study focuses on the Apulia region in southern Italy, a key horticultural and viticultural area with intensive plastic use. Annual APW was estimated for each agricultural feature using a detailed 1:5000 land use map, crop distribution data, and validated plastic waste indices for several plastic application types. The analysis was integrated within a Geographic Information System (GIS) and combined with relative risk indices (RRIs) to compute and map the agricultural plastic pollution risk index (APPRI), a semi-quantitative indicator designated to estimate the potential release of MNPs from agricultural plastics. The APPRI is obtained by multiplying the APW estimates by the RRIs. The results show a clear spatial heterogeneity in plastic waste generation, with the highest APPRI values in vineyards, orchards, olive groves, and greenhouse systems, particularly in the provinces of Foggia and Bari. Cereal-based cropping systems exhibited the lowest risk values. The study proposes an innovative approach, combining land use, APW, and related potential risk into a single mapping tool. This allows for effectively identifying regional hotspots where management and recycling strategies should be prioritized. This GIS-based tool for assessing and visualizing agricultural plastic pollution risk can support evidence-based decision-making and sustainable waste management in agricultural landscapes.