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The fate of microplastics/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) in constructed wetlands: Addressing methodological gaps and experimental challenges from lab-scale to full-scale
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This review examines the effectiveness of constructed wetlands for removing micro- and nanoplastics from water, comparing laboratory and full-scale results. Researchers found that while constructed wetlands show promising removal capabilities, the unique physical and chemical properties of plastic particles mean that lab-scale efficiencies may differ significantly from real-world performance, highlighting the need for more field-scale studies.
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) are ubiquitous pollutants resulting from the widespread use of plastic products and the fragmentation of plastic litter upon release into the environment. Their unique physicochemical properties, such as heterogeneous nature, small size, and durability, pose threats to ecosystems and human health. Constructed wetlands (CWs) have demonstrated effective removal ability for MPs/NPs. However, different from conventional water-soluble pollutions, MPs/NPs tend to retain their physical and chemical status in CWs. Furthermore, the removal and behavior of MPs/NPs in CWs are closely influenced by both the properties of the particles and the surrounding environmental conditions. Thus, laboratory-scale removal efficiencies may differ significantly from those observed in field-scale systems, making them less representative of actual performance under real environmental conditions. This review systematically compares findings from laboratory-scale and field-scale CW studies, highlighting differences in MPs/NPs removal efficiencies and research priorities. The removal mechanisms and the impact of MPs/NPs on various CW components, including plants, substrates, microorganisms, and macroinvertebrates, are comprehensively analyzed. Additionally, a detailed analysis was conducted on the effects of MPs/NPs accumulation on conventional elemental cycling and interaction with other emerging contaminants within the systems. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives are presented. This review provides a theoretical basis for improving MPs/NPs removal and offers new insights into the difference between field and lab-scale studies, thereby deepening the understanding of MPs/NPs behavior and fate in CWs.
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Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence and fate across full-scale treatment wetlands, finding that constructed wetlands effectively remove a significant proportion of MPs from wastewater but that removal efficiency varies with wetland design and MP characteristics.
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This review summarizes existing research on tiny human-made particles called nanomaterials, including nanoplastics, in constructed wetlands used to treat water. It finds these materials mainly build up in the soil and biofilm layer, often harming wetland organisms through stress and cell damage, which can affect water cleaning performance.
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Laboratory-scale unplanted vertical flow constructed wetlands were shown to remove microplastics from wastewater, with removal efficiency influenced by particle size, shape, and flow rate, highlighting constructed wetlands as a nature-based option for microplastic mitigation.
[Research Process on the Removal Characteristics and Ecological Response of Constructed Wetlands to Microplastics/Nanoplastics].
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This Chinese-language review summarized how constructed wetlands remove microplastics and nanoplastics through plant-substrate-microorganism interactions, covering removal mechanisms, ecological effects, and treatment efficiency. The authors found wetlands to be a cost-effective ecological approach but noted significant knowledge gaps on long-term nanoplastic behavior.
A review on the fate of micro and nano plastics (MNPs) and their implication in regulating nutrient cycling in constructed wetland systems
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This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics interact with the biological, chemical, and physical processes in constructed wetlands, which are nature-based systems used to treat wastewater. Researchers found that these tiny plastics can interfere with nitrogen and phosphorus removal by affecting the microbial communities, plant health, and substrate chemistry within the wetlands. The study highlights that as microplastic levels increase in wastewater, their presence could reduce the overall treatment effectiveness of these green infrastructure systems.
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