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Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Detection Methods
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Comparative Long-Term Monitoring of Microplastics in the Effluent of Three Different Wastewater Treatment Plants with Two, Three, and Four Treatment Stages
Water2025
4 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 48
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Michael Sturm,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Anika Korzin,
Michael Sturm,
Katrin Schuhen
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Anika Korzin,
Katrin Schuhen
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Katrin Schuhen
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Katrin Schuhen
Michael Sturm,
Erika Myers,
Dora V. Argyropoulou,
Anika Korzin,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Anika Korzin,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Michael Sturm,
Erika Myers,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Katrin Schuhen
Dora V. Argyropoulou,
Michael Sturm,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Michael Sturm,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Michael Sturm,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Erika Myers,
Dennis Schober,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Michael Sturm,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Michael Sturm,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Katrin Schuhen
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Erika Myers,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Katrin Schuhen
Dennis Schober,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Erika Myers,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Oleg Zernikel,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Oleg Zernikel,
Oleg Zernikel,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Oleg Zernikel,
Dennis Schober,
Erika Myers,
Oleg Zernikel,
Oleg Zernikel,
Oleg Zernikel,
Dennis Schober,
Oleg Zernikel,
Oleg Zernikel,
Oleg Zernikel,
Dennis Schober,
Katrin Schuhen
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Katrin Schuhen
Dennis Schober,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Summary
Researchers compared long-term microplastic concentrations in the effluents of three municipal wastewater treatment plants using different treatment technologies: conventional three-stage, four-stage with activated carbon, and two-stage membrane bioreactor. Using standardized methods, they found effluent MP levels varied with treatment concept, providing actionable data for regulators assessing technology requirements.
Study Type
Environmental
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important point sources for microplastics (MPs) in the environment. For effective mitigation measures and regulations, it is important to monitor their release into the environment and understand the level of MPs in the WWTP effluents based on different treatment technologies. In this study, we compare the MP levels in the effluents of three different municipal WWTPs which each use a different treatment concept: a conventional three-stage WWTP, one with an additional fourth cleaning stage using powdered activated carbon, and a two-stage WWTP utilizing a membrane bioreactor (MBR). Long-term monitoring was performed on the WWTP effluents using the same standardized methods for sample collection, preparation, and detection, based on fluorescent staining. Despite the various advanced treatment processes, there are no significant differences in the resulting MP contamination in the investigation of WWTP effluents. The average MP concentrations in the effluents were 21.8 MPs/L for the conventional three-stage WWTP, 15.1 MPs/L for the four-stage WWTP, and 15.1 MPs/L for the MBR. Further, the MP contamination in all effluents shows a strong fluctuation over time. These findings highlight the need for standard MP monitoring at WWTPs, to gain a better understanding of the MP emission in different treatment processes. Further, it highlights the need for a fourth treatment stage that specifically targets MP removal to effectively prevent the MP release from WWTPs into the environment.