We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Supplemental data for: Comparison of microplastics in wastewater influent and effluent from wastewater treatment plants in Ontario, Canada
AI summary Read the abstract
This is supplemental data for a study of six wastewater treatment plants in southern Ontario, Canada, which tested water entering and leaving the plants for microplastics. Treatment reduced microplastic levels by 91.9% to 98.5%, though fibers became relatively more common in treated water, and smaller particles were harder to remove than larger ones.
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important pathways for microplastics (MPs) to enter aquatic environments. However, MP occurrence and removal remain poorly characterized in Ontario, Canada, particularly with respect to changes in particle abundance and characteristics between influent and effluent. This study compared MP abundance and particle characteristics in influent and effluent from six WWTPs across southern Ontario, representing a range of facility sizes and treatment configurations. Influent and effluent samples were collected in 2022 and processed using vacuum filtration, with influent samples undergoing additional digestion to remove organic matter. Suspected MPs were quantified and characterized by morphology, colour, and size using optical microscopy, and Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was used to verify the polymer composition of a subset of particles. MPs were detected in all influent and effluent samples, with mean concentrations of 1,790.2 ± 729.5 MP/L and 74.6 ± 30.4 MP/L respectively. Significant reductions in MP abundance between influent and effluent were observed at all six WWTPs, ranging from 91.9% to 98.5%. Fibres (50.8%) and fragments (37.9%) were the most abundant particle morphologies, with the relative abundance of fibres increasing between influent and effluent at all six facilities. Additionally, MP abundance generally increased with decreasing particle size in both influent and effluent samples across all six WWTPs. Of the 600 particles analyzed with ATR-FTIR, 65.3% were confirmed as synthetic polymers, with polyester (39.0%), polypropylene (16.3%), polystyrene (15.3%), and polyethylene (14.5%) being the most abundant across all WWTPs. Overall, these finding show that the tested WWTPs greatly reduced MP concentrations between influent and effluent. However, there is evidence that differences in MP characteristics such as size and morphology may affect their removal efficiency.
More Papers Like This
Analysis of the microplastic load reduction by the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastic concentrations and types were measured in influent and effluent at a wastewater treatment facility in Ithaca, New York, quantifying how much plastic the plant removes and how much remains in discharged water.
Occurrence of microplastics in raw and treated drinking water
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed raw and treated water from three water treatment plants and found microplastics in all samples, though treatment reduced particle counts by roughly 70 to 80 percent. The vast majority of detected particles were smaller than 10 micrometers, a size range often missed by other studies. The findings highlight that while water treatment removes most microplastics, very small particles can still pass through conventional filtration systems.
Fate of Microplastic Pollution Along the Water and Sludge Lines in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers evaluated microplastic abundance and distribution across three municipal wastewater treatment plants using different treatment technologies. The study found that all three plants achieved greater than 97% microplastic removal along the water treatment line, with microplastics concentrating in the sludge fraction, underscoring the important role of sludge treatment in sequestering microplastics from wastewater.
Influence of wastewater treatment process on pollution characteristics and fate of microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated microplastic abundance and removal efficiency across four wastewater treatment plants using different treatment technologies, finding influent concentrations between 539 and 1,290 particles per liter that were reduced substantially by primary and secondary treatment. Smaller microplastic particles proved hardest to remove and most likely to persist in final effluent.
Retention of microplastics in a major secondary wastewater treatment plant in Vancouver, Canada
AI summary Read the abstract
This study tracked microplastic removal at a major secondary wastewater treatment plant in Valencia, Spain, finding that while treatment processes retained the majority of microplastics, a significant number still passed through into receiving waterways.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.