A Study on Microplastic Pollution in Chennai and its Newer Advanced Removal Technologies

The threat posed by Micro plastic pollution has become an environment concern at a global level and particularly Chennai which is growing as a most popular industrialised city in India is affected at a larger level due to this pollution. This research paper is aimed at investigating the health impacts, sources and removal technologies of Micro plastic which is operational in Chennai with recommendations of newer and advanced technologies for the removal and elimination of the threat posed by Micro plastic. Studies have exposed that most of this pollutant has its source from industrial discharge, textile industry and domestic waste. This paper also emphasises on the harmful effects of Micro plastic on the human health like the induction of inflammation and endocrine disruption by its toxicity mechanism and various pathways through which people are exposed to this pollutant such as contaminated drinking water and seafood. A comparison between the conventional treatment methods and newer advanced technologies shows significant improvements in filtration of Micro plastic as observed in newer technologies which can be adopted in the city of Chennai to mitigate the problem of Micro plastic. The newly introduced Wasser 3.0 PE-X® technology is an innovative process which uses a filter less “clump and skim” procedure for the removal which has demonstrated high removal efficacy and more cost effective than the conventional methods being used and this paper also explores other emerging technologies like the membrane filtration and advanced oxidation processes. By studying these newer technologies this paper explores the practical application of these advanced removal technologies in the Chennai’s water treatment plants, plastic manufacturing units and textile industries.