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Occurrence and distribution of phthalate esters and microplastics in wastewater treatment plants in Taiwan and their toxicological risks
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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.
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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Occurrence of phthalate esters and microplastics in urban secondary effluents, receiving water bodies and reclaimed water treatment processes
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Researchers simultaneously investigated phthalate ester and microplastic occurrence in four wastewater treatment plants, receiving water bodies, and reclaimed water treatment processes across winter and spring seasons, detecting four phthalate types at total concentrations of 568.9 to over 1,800 ng/L. The study found that both contaminant classes persisted through treatment processes and were discharged into receiving water bodies.
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Fate and Ecological Risk of Phthalate Esters in Microplastics of Wastewater in the Wastewater Treatment Plant
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This study measured phthalate ester concentrations in both the liquid and microplastic fractions throughout a wastewater treatment process, finding that di-n-butyl phthalate and benzyl butyl phthalate in effluent pose high ecological risk across fish, invertebrate, and algal trophic levels. Microplastics in wastewater act as vectors concentrating phthalate esters—known endocrine disruptors—and transporting them into receiving waterways at ecologically dangerous levels.
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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.