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Sources of microplastics pollution in the marine environment: Importance of wastewater treatment plant and coastal landfill
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This study assessed a coastal municipal wastewater treatment plant and a nearby beach landfill as sources of microplastic pollution in the marine environment, finding both contributed significantly to coastal contamination. The study supports multi-source pollution control strategies for coastal areas where both wastewater infrastructure and solid waste disposal are inadequate.
This study investigated the role of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent and an abandoned coastal landfill as pathways for microplastics (MPs) input into the marine environment. MPs were first analyzed in raw sewage influent, sludge and effluent samples, and their fate was studied along a distance gradient from the WWTP in three matrices: surface water, sediments and wild mussels. All suspected MPs were characterized according to their polymer nature using micro-Raman spectroscopy. The investigated WWTP had an estimated daily discharge of 227 million MPs. MPs were found in all matrices with a decreasing abundance from the effluent. Strong MPs abundances (higher than those found near the WWTP effluent) were observed in the vicinity of the coastal landfill suggesting its importance as a MPs entry route into the marine coastal environment. Our study supports the idea that blue mussels are a promising sentinel species for MPs (<200 μm).
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A comprehensive characterization of microplastic pollution sources, distribution, and accumulation in a coastal metropolis found multiple overlapping pathways contributing to marine contamination, from urban runoff to wastewater discharge. The study emphasizes that urban coastal cities are both major sources and sinks of microplastic pollution.
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Point-source inputs of microplastics from a specific industrial or municipal source were quantified in both a river and the adjacent coastal zone. The study links land-based pollution sources to downstream and coastal microplastic concentrations, supporting targeted source-control interventions.
Seasonal and spatial variations in microplastics abundances in St. Andrew Bay, Florida
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Researchers found significant seasonal and spatial variations in microplastic abundances in coastal sediments of St. Andrew Bay, Florida, with wastewater treatment plant effluent identified as a major contributor to the approximately 25% of marine microplastics originating from such facilities.
Microplastic abundance in beach sediments of the Kiel Fjord
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Researchers assessed microplastic abundance in beach sediments at three sites in Kiel Fjord, Germany, finding plastics at all locations including one near a sewage treatment plant. The study highlights how multiple sources — recreational use, wastewater discharge, and plastic litter — contribute to microplastic accumulation in coastal sediments.
Pollution in the Marine Environment: Plastics, Microplastics and Organic Pollutants
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This study characterizes marine debris collected from coastal waters, analyzing the types and origins of plastic and organic pollutants found in the marine environment. It combines debris characterization with organic pollutant analysis to understand the compound contamination burden faced by marine ecosystems.
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.