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Impact of chlorine and UV/H2O2 on microplastics in drinking water
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Using chlorine and UV/hydrogen peroxide at dosages realistic for actual drinking water treatment plants, this study assessed whether standard disinfection processes alter microplastics in tap water. The work addresses a critical public health question — whether the water treatment people rely on to make tap water safe actually removes or changes the microplastics that have been detected in treated drinking water.
Limited studies to-date have assessed the impacts of disinfectants (chlorine and ultraviolet (UV)/H 2 O 2 ) on microplastics (MPs), with most employing dosages and fluences that are much higher than typically applied during drinking water treatment.
More Papers Like This
Impact of Chlorine or UV/H2O2 on Microplastics Under Conditions Representative of Drinking Water Treatment
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Researchers exposed low- and high-density polyethylene microplastics to chlorine and UV/H2O2 at drinking-water-relevant doses and found that surface changes and cytotoxicity increases reported in earlier studies occurred only at far higher doses than used in practice.
Secondary risks induced by polyethylene microplastics during the disinfection processes of chlorination, UV irradiation, and ozone treatment
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Polyethylene microplastics subjected to chlorination, UV irradiation, and ozone treatment at drinking-water-relevant doses showed minimal biotoxicity changes, suggesting that standard disinfection processes do not significantly increase the hazard posed by plastic particles in water.
Modifications of ultraviolet irradiation and chlorination on microplastics: Effect of sterilization pattern
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Researchers found that both UV irradiation and chlorination used in drinking water treatment alter the surface properties, size distribution, and chemical composition of microplastics, with combined treatments producing greater modifications and potentially increasing the release of plastic additives and adsorbed contaminants.
Unveiling the optical and molecular characteristics of aging microplastics derived dissolved organic matter transformed by UV/chlor(am)ine oxidation and its potential for disinfection byproducts formation
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Researchers studied how UV light and common water disinfection chemicals break down microplastics in water and found that different treatment methods produce different types of dissolved organic matter from the plastic. Some treatment combinations, particularly UV with chlorine, created byproducts that could form harmful disinfection byproducts when water is later chlorinated. This is important because it means water treatment processes might unintentionally create new toxic compounds from the microplastics already present in water.
The potential risks posed by micro-nanoplastics to the safety of disinfected drinking water
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This review examines the risks that micro- and nanoplastics pose to the safety of disinfected drinking water. Researchers found that common disinfection processes like ozone, chlorine, and UV treatment can actually make plastics more harmful by promoting leaching of organic compounds and generating disinfection byproducts. The study suggests that enhanced treatment technologies such as advanced coagulation, membrane filtration, and improved detection methods are needed to effectively remove these contaminants and prevent secondary hazards.
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.