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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.
Micro-nanoplastics (M-NPs) have become an emerging critical issue in the environment because they migrate easily, can bioaccumulate with toxic effects, and are difficult to degrade. Unfortunately, the current technologies for removing or degrading M-NPs in drinking water are insufficient to eliminate them completely, and residual M-NPs in drinking water may pose a threat to human health by impairing human immunity and metabolism. In addition to their intrinsic toxic effects, M-NPs may be even more harmful after drinking water disinfection than before disinfection. Herein, this paper comprehensively summarizes the negative impacts of several commonly used disinfection processes (ozone, chlorine, and UV) on M-NPs. Moreover, the potential leaching of dissolved organics from M-NPs and the production of disinfection byproducts during the disinfection process are discussed in detail. Moreover, due to the diversity and complexity of M-NPs, their adverse effects may exceed those of conventional organics (e.g., antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and algae) after the disinfection process. Finally, we propose enhanced conventional drinking water treatment processes (e.g., enhanced coagulation, air flotation, advanced adsorbents, and membrane technologies), detection of residual M-NPs, and biotoxicological assessment as promising and ecofriendly candidates to efficiently remove M-NPs and avoid the release of secondary hazards.
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Effects of microplastics on water disinfection and formation of disinfection by-products
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This review examines how the presence of microplastics in drinking water and wastewater interferes with chlorination and ozonation disinfection processes, potentially reducing their effectiveness and generating harmful disinfection by-products. Microplastics can leach dissolved organic carbon that reacts with disinfectants, and they serve as refuges for antibiotic-resistant bacteria that may survive standard treatment. The authors call for more realistic laboratory experiments and field studies to properly assess the real-world risks that microplastics pose inside water treatment plants.
Insight into the effect of UVC-based advanced oxidation processes on the interaction of typical microplastics and their derived disinfection byproducts during disinfection
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Scientists found that UV-based water treatment processes, while intended to clean drinking water, caused microplastics to release more organic matter and form more disinfection byproducts during chlorination. Up to 42% of the toxic byproducts formed were absorbed back onto the microplastic surfaces, creating contaminated particles. This concerning finding suggests that some common water treatment methods could unintentionally make microplastic contamination in drinking water more hazardous.
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.
Microplastics and associated chemicals in drinking water: A review of their occurrence and human health implications
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This review examines how microplastics in drinking water can leach harmful chemicals like plasticizers, stabilizers, and UV filters, especially during water treatment processes that use disinfectants or UV light. These released chemicals can affect the nervous, digestive, reproductive, and liver systems in humans. The findings suggest that microplastics in tap water and bottled water may pose health risks not just from the plastic particles themselves, but also from the toxic chemicals they carry and release.
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.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.