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Tier 2
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Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Detection Methods
Policy & Risk
Remediation
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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
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)2025
Score: 38
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Anika Korzin,
Michael Sturm,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Michael Sturm,
Anika Korzin,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Katrin Schuhen
Erika,
Erika,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Daphne Argyropoulou,
Daphne Argyropoulou,
Daphne Argyropoulou,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Erika,
Erika,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Daphne Argyropoulou,
Daphne Argyropoulou,
Daphne Argyropoulou,
Dennis Schober,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Michael Sturm,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Erika,
Erika,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Erika,
Erika,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Michael Sturm,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Michael Sturm,
Anika Korzin,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Anika Korzin,
Pieter Ronsse,
Katrin Schuhen
Pieter Ronsse,
Katrin Schuhen
Pieter Ronsse,
Katrin Schuhen
Oleg Zernikel,
Dennis Schober,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Pieter Ronsse,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Oleg Zernikel,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Dennis Schober,
Pieter Ronsse,
Anika Korzin,
Oleg Zernikel,
Katrin Schuhen
Dennis Schober,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Dennis Schober,
Oleg Zernikel,
Oleg Zernikel,
Oleg Zernikel,
Oleg Zernikel,
Oleg Zernikel,
Oleg Zernikel,
Oleg Zernikel,
Katrin Schuhen
Dennis Schober,
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
Katrin Schuhen
Summary
Researchers conducted long-term comparative monitoring of microplastic concentrations in the effluents of three municipal wastewater treatment plants employing two-, three-, and four-stage treatment technologies, finding that an additional fourth stage using powdered activated carbon reduced MP discharge compared to conventional three-stage treatment.
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.