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Negligible adsorption and toxicity of microplastic fibers in disinfected secondary effluents
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Researchers tested the adsorption and toxicity of microplastic fibers to organisms in a soil system, finding negligible adsorption of co-contaminants onto fiber surfaces and low toxicity at environmentally relevant concentrations. The results suggest fiber-type microplastics may pose less chemical risk than previously assumed for certain organisms.
Wastewater treatment plants play a crucial role in controlling the transport of pollutants to the environment and often discharge persistent contaminants such as synthetic microplastic fibers (MFs) to the ecosystem. In this study, we examined the fate and toxicity of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MFs fabricated from commercial cloth in post-disinfection secondary effluents by employing conditions that closely mimic disinfection processes applied in wastewater treatment plants. Challenging conventional assumptions, this study illustrated that oxidative treatment by chlorination and ozonation incurred no significant modification to the surface morphology of the MFs. Additionally, experimental results demonstrated that both pristine and oxidized MFs have minimal adsorption potential towards contaminants of emerging concern in both effluents and alkaline water. The limited adsorption was attributed to the inert nature of MFs and low surface area to volume ratio. Slight adsorption was observed for sotalol, sulfamethoxazole, and thiabendazole in alkaline water, where the governing adsorption interactions were suggested to be hydrogen bonding and electrostatic forces. Acute exposure experiments on human cells revealed no immediate toxicity; however, the chronic and long-term consequences of the exposure should be further investigated. Overall, despite the concern associated with MFs pollution, this work demonstrates the overall indifference of MFs in WWTP (i.e., minor effects of disinfection on MFs surface properties and limited adsorption potential toward a mix of trace organic pollutants), which does not change their acute toxicity toward living forms.
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Researchers grew natural biofilms on plastic microfibers under realistic environmental conditions and measured changes in adsorption of two toxic contaminants, finding that biofilm formation substantially increased the fibers' capacity to bind pollutants, amplifying their potential as chemical vectors.
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Researchers measured the physical properties of silt loam soil after incorporating polyester fibers and polypropylene granules across a wide range of concentrations. The study found that at environmentally relevant concentrations, microplastics had minimal impacts on soil physical properties such as water retention and aggregate stability, suggesting that current contamination levels may not significantly alter soil structure.
Microplastics and synthetic fibers in treated wastewater and sludge
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Researchers measured microplastics and synthetic fibers in both the treated effluent and sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, finding that while effluent concentrations were relatively low, sludge had very high microplastic concentrations. When sludge is applied to agricultural fields as fertilizer, it can deliver large quantities of microplastics directly to soils.
Microplastic Textile Fibers Accumulate in Sand and Are Potential Sources of Micro(nano)plastic Pollution
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Polyester and nylon microfibers were studied for their long-term behavior in sandy agricultural soils, finding that fibers persisted, accumulated, and were not effectively degraded under field conditions over extended periods. The results indicate textile microfibers in soils represent a long-lived reservoir of microplastic contamination with potential effects on soil structure and organisms.
Impacts of Microplastics on the Soil Biophysical Environment
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Four common microplastic types (polyacrylic fibers, polyamide beads, polyester fibers, PE fragments) were added to loamy sand soil at environmentally relevant concentrations in a garden experiment and effects on soil-water relationships, structure, and microbial function were measured over 5 weeks. Results showed that microplastics altered water repellency, aggregate stability, and microbial activity in a plastic-type-dependent manner, confirming that microplastics can disrupt fundamental soil biophysical processes.
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