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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Human Health Effects Remediation Sign in to save

Occurrence and distribution of phthalate esters and microplastics in wastewater treatment plants in Taiwan and their toxicological risks

Chemosphere 2022 27 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Ming-Huang Wang, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Ming-Huang Wang, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Ming-Huang Wang, Ming-Huang Wang, Ming-Huang Wang, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Ming-Huang Wang, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Ming-Huang Wang, Ming-Huang Wang, Ming-Huang Wang, Ming-Huang Wang, Frank Paolo Jay B. Albarico, Chih-Feng Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Cheng-Di Dong, Frank Paolo Jay B. Albarico, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Frank Paolo Jay B. Albarico, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu-Wen Chen, Chih-Feng Chen, Frank Paolo Jay B. Albarico, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu-Wen Chen, Ming-Huang Wang, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Ming-Huang Wang, Frank Paolo Jay B. Albarico, Frank Paolo Jay B. Albarico, Frank Paolo Jay B. Albarico, Frank Paolo Jay B. Albarico, Chiu-Wen Chen, Cheng-Di Dong, Ming-Huang Wang, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu-Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Cheng–Di Dong Cheng–Di Dong, Ming-Huang Wang, Cheng–Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong, Cheng-Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong, Frank Paolo Jay B. Albarico, Chiu-Wen Chen, Chiu-Wen Chen, Chiu-Wen Chen, Chiu-Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Cheng–Di Dong Cheng–Di Dong Cheng–Di Dong Chiu‐Wen Chen, Frank Paolo Jay B. Albarico, Chiu-Wen Chen, Chiu-Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Cheng–Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong Cheng–Di Dong Cheng–Di Dong, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu-Wen Chen, Cheng–Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong Chiu-Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Cheng–Di Dong Frank Paolo Jay B. Albarico, Chiu-Wen Chen, Chiu-Wen Chen, Chiu-Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Cheng-Di Dong, Cheng-Di Dong, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Chiu‐Wen Chen, Cheng–Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong Cheng–Di Dong Cheng–Di Dong Cheng–Di Dong, Cheng-Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong Cheng–Di Dong Cheng–Di Dong, Cheng-Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong Cheng-Di Dong, Cheng-Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong Cheng-Di Dong, Cheng-Di Dong, Cheng–Di Dong

Summary

Researchers analyzed phthalate esters and microplastics across 17 wastewater treatment plants in Taiwan, finding the highest plasticizer concentrations in sewage treatment plants and correlations between microplastic abundance and phthalate levels, with associated toxicological risks.

Study Type Environmental

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are fat soluble synthetic chemicals, usually regarded as plasticizers for being added in numerous plastic products. Thus, environmental and health hazards of PAEs are associated with increasing plastic pollution. In this study, PAEs from sludge samples collected from water, sewage, and industrial treatment plants (N = 17) were analyzed using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. Microplastics (MPs) were also quantified and correlated with PAEs. Results showed the highest average PAE concentrations in sewage treatment plants. The greatest ΣPAEs concentration were found in sewage treatment plant (STP4) with 32,414 μg/kg dw, while the lowest found in water treatment plant (WTP3) with 2062 μg/kg dw. Among different PAEs, di-(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) contributes the highest. Similarly, DEHP, di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) and diisononyl phthalate (DiNP) significantly correlated with the total PAEs indicating their large contribution to sludge contamination. The abundance of microplastics in sludge ranged between 1 and 7 MP/g, highest at ITP6, but not detected in some stations. While microplastics may potentially increase PAEs, there was no significant relationship between ΣPAEs and MP abundance. The estimated human daily intake of DEHP and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) when contaminated sludge be used showed low toxicological risks to exposed adults. This research presents the sludge characteristics, PAEs, and microplastic concentrations in different wastewater treatment plants in Taiwan. PAE contamination was highly contributed by domestic and industrial wastes shown by their significant amounts in STP and ITP. Results further provide evidence for potential sludge recycling (WTP sludge) and application to soil.

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