Microplastics in Freshwater and Drinking Water: Sources, Impacts, Detection, and Removal Strategies

The discovery of microplastics in freshwater and drinking water sources has raised concerns about the effectiveness of drinking water treatment facilities in protecting the public from exposure to these potentially harmful particles. Microplastics present in drinking water pose a risk to human health, and there is currently a lack of scientific knowledge about their existence and removal in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). It is crucial to understand the fate of microplastics in DWTPs as they act as a barrier preventing them from accessing drinking water. The manuscript focuses on the increasing concern of microplastics in freshwater environments, their sources, occurrence, and potential impacts on human health and aquatic ecosystems. The article discusses various techniques used for the detection, characterization, and quantification of microplastics in water. The text also covers the potential negative impacts of microplastics on the environment and human health, and the processes that drinking water treatment plants can use to eliminate microplastics from water. It emphasizes the importance of considering various parameters while implementing treatment strategies and highlights the effectiveness of ozone and UV treatments in speeding up the removal of microplastics. The paper also mentions the use of machine learning techniques for identifying and quantifying the environmental risks of microplastics and aiding in the development of new removal techniques. The article concludes by highlighting the need for regulations for the disposal and usage of microplastics and the importance of developing effective waste management strategies to reduce plastic consumption.