0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Food & Water Nanoplastics Sign in to save

Are Micro- or Nanoplastics Leached from Drinking Water Distribution Systems?

Environmental Science & Technology 2019 51 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 35 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Yanghui Xu, Qiang He, Caihong Liu, Xiaoliu Huangfu

Summary

This viewpoint paper examines whether plastic drinking water pipes could shed micro- or nanoplastics into tap water, reviewing evidence on pipe materials like PVC and polyethylene. While leaching is possible—especially with aging or damaged pipes—data on the scale of human exposure remains limited.

Polymers
Study Type Environmental

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEViewpointNEXTAre Micro- or Nanoplastics Leached from Drinking Water Distribution Systems?Yanghui XuYanghui XuKey Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University Chongqing 400044, ChinaMore by Yanghui Xu, Qiang HeQiang HeKey Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University Chongqing 400044, ChinaMore by Qiang He, Caihong LiuCaihong LiuKey Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University Chongqing 400044, ChinaMore by Caihong Liu, and Xiaoliu Huangfu*Xiaoliu HuangfuKey Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University Chongqing 400044, China*Phone: +86-023-6512-0980; fax: +86-023-6512-0980; e-mail: [email protected]More by Xiaoliu Huangfuhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-3437-3898Cite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 2019, 53, 16, 9339–9340Publication Date (Web):August 8, 2019Publication History Received3 July 2019Published online8 August 2019Published inissue 20 August 2019https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b03673https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b03673newsACS PublicationsCopyright © 2019 American Chemical Society. This publication is available under these Terms of Use. Request reuse permissions This publication is free to access through this site. Learn MoreArticle Views8977Altmetric-Citations26LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail PDF (725 KB) Get e-AlertscloseSUBJECTS:Chlorine,Drinking water,Materials,Plastics,Polyethylene Get e-Alerts

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Aging of drinking water transmission pipes during long-term operation as a potential source of nano- and microplastics

A study of aging plastic water pipes (PE and PVC) used in drinking water systems found that over time, the pipe surfaces crack and peel, releasing micro- and nanoplastic particles into tap water. Smaller-diameter pipes at the ends of distribution networks showed the most degradation, meaning households furthest from water treatment plants may receive the highest levels of plastic contamination in their drinking water.

Article Tier 2

Factors affecting the leaching of micro and nanoplastics in the water distribution system

Researchers studied how plastic water pipes in distribution systems leach micro- and nanoplastics into drinking water under varying conditions of pH, chlorine levels, and pipe material. They found that higher pH and the presence of free chlorine both contributed to increased particle release from the pipes. The findings raise concerns that everyday drinking water infrastructure may be an overlooked source of human microplastic exposure.

Article Tier 2

The Behaviour of Polymeric Pipes in Drinking Water Distribution System. Comparison with Other Pipe Materials

This paper is not directly about microplastics; it reviews how different pipe materials used in drinking water distribution systems leach chemicals, corrode, and support microbial growth, focusing on metal and polymer pipes and their impact on water quality.

Review Tier 2

Drinking Water Network as a Potential Pathway for Micro- and Nanoplastics Exposure to Human: A Mini Review

This review examined how drinking water networks -- the pipes and infrastructure connecting treatment plants to homes -- may act as a secondary source of micro- and nanoplastic contamination. Researchers found that plastic piping materials, biofilm buildup, and aging infrastructure all contribute to microplastic levels in tap water. The study highlights a largely overlooked pathway of human exposure and calls for better monitoring of water distribution systems.

Review Tier 2

Emerging contaminants migration from pipes used in drinking water distribution systems: a review of the scientific literature

Researchers reviewed the migration of emerging contaminants from water distribution pipes into drinking water, focusing on microplastics, bisphenol A, phthalates, and other chemicals. The study found that pipe materials can release these contaminants into tap water, posing potential human health concerns and highlighting the need for better monitoring of distribution system contributions to drinking water contamination.

Share this paper