We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A global review of microplastics in wastewater treatment plants: Understanding their occurrence, fate and impact
AI summary Read the abstract
A global review of 121 wastewater treatment plants found that microplastics are consistently present in both influent and effluent, with WWTPs acting as major conduits delivering plastics into aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. While removal efficiencies varied widely, the sludge produced by these plants represents a concentrated secondary pathway for microplastic release to land.
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging as a serious environmental concern, with wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) acting as the main entry routes for MPs into aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. On a global scale, our literature review found that MP research in WWTPs has only been conducted on 121 WWTPs in 17 countries, with the majority of the work being done in Europe (53%), followed by the United States of America and Canada (24%), Asia (18%), and Australia (5%) in recent years. MPs in WWTPs are primarily derived from Personal Care and Cosmetic Products (PCCPs), which are primarily composed of polyethylene (PE) derivatives. Based on the studies, microfibers (57%) and fragments (47%) are observed to be the most common MP forms in influents and effluents of WWTPs. The chemical characterization of MPs detected in WWTPs, showed the occurrence of polyethylene (PE) (22%), polystyrene (PS) (21%), and polypropylene (13%). Although MP retention/removal efficiencies of different treatment technologies vary from medium to high, deliberations on sludge disposal on agricultural soils containing MPs and MP intrusion into groundwater are required to sustainably regulate MP contaminant transport. Thus, the development of efficient detection methods and understanding their fate are of immense significance for the management of MPs. Despite the fact that ongoing research in MPs and WWTPs has unquestionably improved our understanding, many questions and concerns remain unanswered. In this review, the current status of the detection, occurrence, and impact of MPs in WWTPs across the world are systematically reviewed to prioritize policy-making to recognize the WWTPs as global conduits of MPs.
More Papers Like This
A review of the removal of microplastics in global wastewater treatment plants: Characteristics and mechanisms
AI summary Read the abstract
This review analyzed data from 38 wastewater treatment plants across 11 countries to understand how effectively they remove microplastics. While treatment plants can remove the majority of microplastics from wastewater, significant quantities still pass through into waterways, and the microplastics captured in sewage sludge may re-enter the environment when that sludge is applied to farmland.
Microplastics in the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs): Occurrence and removal
AI summary Read the abstract
A review of microplastic occurrence and removal at wastewater treatment plants found that while WWTPs reduce microplastic concentrations in effluent, they never achieve complete removal, and the retained plastics concentrate in sewage sludge that is often land-applied. WWTPs are thus both a barrier and a pathway for microplastics entering both aquatic and terrestrial environments.
Occurrence of microplastics in the effluent of wastewater treatment plants : growing threat to the environment?
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines studies on microplastic occurrence in wastewater treatment plant effluents, synthesizing evidence that treatment plants both retain and release significant quantities of microplastics and are a major pathway for plastic particles entering aquatic environments.
Toward a Better Understanding of the Contribution of Wastewater Treatment Plants to Microplastic Pollution in Receiving Waterways
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) contribute to microplastic pollution in receiving waterways, synthesizing evidence on removal efficiencies of different treatment stages and the characteristics of microplastics that escape into the environment. Researchers found that while WWTPs remove the majority of incoming microplastics, they remain a significant source of microplastic discharge due to the large volumes of wastewater processed daily.
Microplastics removal in wastewater treatment plants: a critical review
AI summary Read the abstract
This critical review of microplastic removal in wastewater treatment plants examines removal efficiencies across different treatment stages, finding that while WWTPs remove the majority of microplastics from influent, they still release millions of particles daily and are a major pathway for microplastics entering aquatic environments.
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.