We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in sediments of a man-made lake receiving reclaimed water
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in sediments of a man-made lake receiving reclaimed water from a wastewater treatment plant, with fiber and fragment morphotypes predominating and concentrations correlating with distance from the reclaimed water input point, implicating treated wastewater as a microplastic source to recreational water bodies.
Microplastics have been widely detected in the effluent discharged from wastewater treatment plants. However, few studies have focused on the occurrence of microplastics in the sediments of waterbodies receiving reclaimed water. The present study investigated the microplastics distribution in the sediments of such a lake in Tianjin, China receiving reclaimed water and determined the factors affecting the settlement of microplastics in the sediment column. Nine sediment cores were collected and the abundance, shape, size, and color of the microplastics were determined. The polymers of microplastics were identified and the mass concentrations of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC) were analyzed. Large amount of microplastics were found to accumulate in the sediments of the lake receiving reclaimed water. Eighteen polymers were found in the sediments and PA, PET, PP, PSF, and PU are much more than others. In surface sediments, PET and PC ranged from 2.43 to 10.62 mg/kg and 0.03 to 0.77 mg/kg, respectively. Fragment and fiber are the most common shapes, accounting for 67.5% and 24.8% of all the microplastics. The distribution of microplastics was influenced by polymer type, size, shape, and grain size of the sediments. Microplastic morphological diversities decreased with increasing depth of the sediments. Our findings provide evidence that the sediments of receiving waterbodies are important sinks of the microplastics in reclaimed water.
More Papers Like This
Treated wastewater disturb the distributions of microplastics in their receiving watersheds
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers sampled surface water and sediment upstream and downstream of a petrochemical and a municipal wastewater treatment plant, finding that treated effluent consistently elevated microplastic abundances downstream, with petrochemical effluent increasing microplastic diversity and municipal effluent increasing fiber and narrow particle fractions.
Historical and current occurrence of microplastics in water and sediment of a Finnish lake affected by WWTP effluents
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized microplastics in water and cesium-137-dated sediment cores from a Finnish lake sub-basin receiving wastewater treatment plant effluent. Microplastics were detected back to the 1970s in sediment records, and current concentrations in the lake reflected the wastewater treatment plant as the dominant local source.
Microplastic sources and distribution dynamics across contrasting anthropogenic settings: implications for lake management
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastic particles have emerged as a pervasive pollutant in lake ecosystems, with sources and distribution patterns varying significantly across different anthropogenic settings, affecting ecological processes and human health. Understanding how land use and human activity influence microplastic loading and spatial distribution in lakes is essential for developing targeted management strategies.
Behavior of Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Processes and Estimation of Its Loading to Lake Biwa
AI summary Read the abstract
Japanese researchers measured microplastic behavior across four wastewater treatment plants flowing into Lake Biwa, finding 30 types of plastics in influent with concentrations of 158–5,000 particles/m3; while treatment removed most particles, smaller microplastics under 100 µm were not adequately captured even by rapid sand filtration.
Microplastics in a freshwater environment receiving treated wastewater effluent
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers monitored microplastic concentrations over time in three connected urban lakes receiving treated wastewater effluent in Texas, finding persistent contamination in both size classes studied. The study demonstrates that wastewater discharge sustains ongoing microplastic loading in urban freshwater systems even after treatment.
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.