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Microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in landfill-wastewater treatment systems: A field study
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Researchers measured both microplastics and PFAS chemicals in four landfill-wastewater treatment systems in Illinois and found that treatment plants reduced concentrations of both contaminants in discharged water. However, both microplastics and PFAS accumulated heavily in biosolids, which may reintroduce these pollutants into the environment when biosolids are used as fertilizer or sent back to landfills.
Landfills and wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are point sources for many emerging contaminants, including microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Previous studies have estimated the abundance and transport of microplastics and PFAS separately in landfills and WWTPs. In addition, previous studies typically report concentrations of microplastics as particle count/L or count/g sediment, which do not provide the information needed to calculate mass balances. We measured microplastics and PFAS in four landfill-WWTP systems in Illinois, USA, and quantified mass of both contaminants in landfill leachate, WWTP influent, effluent, and biosolids. Microplastic concentrations in WWTP influent were similar in magnitude to landfill leachates, in the order of 10 μg plastic/L (parts-per-billion). In contrast, PFAS concentrations were higher in leachates (parts-per-billion range) than WWTP influent (parts-per-trillion range). After treatment, both contaminants had lower concentrations in WWTP effluent, although were abundant in biosolids. We concluded that WWTPs reduce PFAS and microplastics, lowering concentrations in the effluent that is discharged to nearby surface waters. However, partitioning of both contaminants to biosolids may reintroduce them as pollutants when biosolids are landfilled or used as fertilizer.
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Microplastics: A potential booster for PFAS in biosolids
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Researchers investigated whether microplastics in biosolids could enhance the mobility and persistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in soil, finding that microplastics may act as co-carriers that amplify PFAS contamination risks. The study highlights an understudied interaction between two major emerging contaminants.
Wastewater Treatment Facilities as Underappreciated Point Sources for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Microplastics: A Critical Perspective
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Researchers argued that wastewater treatment plants are underappreciated co-concentrators of PFAS and microplastics, reviewing how these contaminants interact during treatment, partition across effluent and biosolids, and potentially re-enter drinking water sources — and identifying forced air-water partitioning as a promising but underexplored separation strategy.
An audit of microplastic abundance throughout three Australian wastewater treatment plants
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Microplastic abundance was audited throughout three Australian wastewater treatment plants, tracking particles from influent through all treatment stages and into both effluent and biosolids. While treatment removed most microplastics from effluent, the majority were captured in biosolids — which are often land-applied — highlighting biosolids as the primary pathway for microplastics leaving wastewater treatment systems.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in sewage sludge: challenges of biological and thermal treatment processes and potential threats to the environment from land disposal
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This review summarizes data on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as 'forever chemicals') found in sewage sludge, which is commonly spread on farmland. Current biological and thermal treatment methods struggle to fully remove these persistent chemicals from sludge. While focused on PFAS rather than microplastics, the findings are relevant because both contaminants accumulate in sludge and enter the food chain when that sludge is applied to agricultural soil.
The course of microplastics before and after UK WWTPs and their release into the environment.
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This study tracked microplastics through UK wastewater treatment plants from influent to effluent and biosolids, finding that while treatment removes the majority of microplastics from the water stream, significant quantities are concentrated in biosolids spread on agricultural land.
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.