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Advancing Evaluation of Microplastics Thresholds to Inform Water Treatment Needs and Risks
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This study introduces a new framework called the Threshold Microplastics Concentration (TMC) to help drinking water providers evaluate whether microplastics in their water supply could carry enough harmful chemicals to pose a health risk. The tool uses data on how much contamination microplastics can absorb to determine when further testing or treatment upgrades are needed. This science-based screening approach could help water utilities make better decisions about protecting public health from microplastic exposure.
Although human health impacts of microplastics are not well understood, concern regarding chemical contaminants retained on or within them is growing. Drinking water providers are increasingly asked about these risks, but strategies for evaluating them and the extent of treatment needed to manage them are currently lacking. Microplastics can potentially induce health effects if the concentration of contaminants adsorbed to them exceeds predetermined drinking water guidelines (e.g., Maximum Contaminant Levels). The risk posed by microplastics due to adsorbed contaminants is difficult to determine, but a worst-case scenario can be evaluated by using adsorption capacity. Here, a "Threshold Microplastics Concentration" (TMC) framework is developed to evaluate whether waterborne microplastic concentrations can potentially result in the intake of regulated contaminants on/in microplastics at levels of human health concern and identify treatment targets for managing associated health risk. Exceeding the TMC does not indicate an immediate health risk; it informs the need for detailed risk assessment or further treatment evaluation to ensure particle removal targets are achieved. Thus, the TMC concept and framework provide an updateable, science-based screening tool to determine if there is a need for detailed risk assessment or treatment modification due to waterborne microplastics in supplies used for potable water production.
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