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
Summary
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.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Treated wastewater disturb the distributions of microplastics in their receiving watersheds
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
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.
Microplastics in a freshwater environment receiving treated wastewater effluent
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.
Microplastic Pollution in Surface Waters and Sediments of Urban Lake
This book chapter reviews microplastic pollution in urban lake surface waters and sediments, describing sources, distribution patterns, and the ecological consequences of MP accumulation in these widely used but understudied freshwater habitats.
Distribution Characteristics and Source Analysis of Microplastics in Urban Freshwater Lakes: A Case Study in Songshan Lake of Dongguan, China
Researchers found microplastics in both surface water and sediments of Songshan Lake, an urban freshwater lake in China, identifying fiber shapes as dominant and using principal component analysis to trace sources including atmospheric deposition, runoff, and recreational activities.