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Pollution of beaches and watercourses by plastic biomedia
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This chapter examines how plastic biomedia — small plastic biofilm carriers used in wastewater treatment — can escape treatment facilities and pollute beaches and waterways. These engineered plastic particles are a specific but significant point source of industrial microplastic pollution.
This book covers the topic of microplastics in water and wastewater. The chapters start with introductory issues related to the growing interest in the scientific community on microplastics and the human water cycle and point out where the microplastics could interact with water. The subsequent chapters examine evidence of the microplastic presence in freshwater, such as in both rivers and lakes, in freshwater biota, and hazardous chemicals associated with microplastics in such systems.Another set of chapters discuss the presence of microplastics in wastewater: their sources; their transfer through a wastewater treatment plant; the concentration of microplastics in effluents throughout the world; the plastic biomedia used in wastewater treatment plants and the effect on the surrounding environment of effluent wastewater pipes. These chapters also discuss the sampling methods, the sample treatment and analysis techniques used so far for microplastics in wastewater. Additionally, the presence of microplastics in sewage sludge and in soils irrigated with wastewater or fertilized with sludge are discussed. The possible impact of plastics and their additives on plants, microalgae, and humans are reviewed and presented in a critical way. Finally, a chapter summarizes all the relevant regulations and initiatives that point to the necessity of a global directive for the protection of the environment from plastic and microplastic pollution.The topic of microplastics in freshwater systems and in wastewater has scarcely been studied and requires more attention. Microplastics in Water and Wastewater aims to bring these initial findings to the attention of a broader audience and especially to operators and managers of freshwater and wastewater systems. It will also be helpful to people already aware of the marine debris problem to understand the sources of microplastics in the oceans, from freshwater systems and wastewater treatment plants."All in all, the book is recommended for researchers and policymakers in the fields of environmental chemistry, civil engineering, city planning, waste management and toxicology. Furthermore, it is also worthwhile for those who are concerned about the effects of microplastics on biota and on humans."Professor Hideshige Takada, Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry (LOG), Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, International Pellet WatchISBN: 9781789060027 (print)ISBN: 9781789060034 (eBook)ISBN: 9781789060041 (ePUB)
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Pollution of beaches and watercourses by plastic biomedia
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This book chapter examines plastic biomedia — small plastic pieces used in biological wastewater treatment — as a source of plastic pollution in beaches and waterways when they escape treatment systems. These particles represent a specific and underappreciated industrial source of microplastic contamination in aquatic environments.
First report of plastic biomedia contamination in Brazilian beaches - evidence from the Paraná coast
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Researchers documented the first confirmed contamination of Brazilian beaches by plastic biomedia — small perforated plastic carriers used in moving-bed biofilm reactor wastewater treatment — collecting 749 items from 11 of 14 sampled beaches along the Paraná coast. The findings reveal a largely overlooked industrial plastic pathway into coastal environments: accidental releases from wastewater infrastructure add a distinct type of engineered plastic particle to ocean pollution, raising questions about their environmental fate and ecotoxicological effects.
Evaluating wastewater effluent as a source of microplastics in environmental samples
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This book chapter reviews how microplastics enter freshwater systems and wastewater treatment plants, and how these plants serve as both a partial barrier and a pathway for microplastics reaching rivers and oceans. Understanding wastewater as a vector is crucial for developing interventions that prevent microplastics from reaching ecosystems.
Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Characteristics, Occurrence and Removal Technologies
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This review summarizes how wastewater treatment plants are a major pathway for microplastics entering the environment, covering the types, sizes, and sources of microplastics found in wastewater. While treatment plants can remove many microplastics, significant amounts still escape into rivers and oceans through treated water and sludge. The authors evaluate various removal technologies and recommend advanced treatment methods to better prevent microplastics from reaching water supplies.
Evaluating wastewater effluent as a source of microplastics in environmental samples
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This book chapter evaluates wastewater effluent as a source of microplastics in environmental samples, reviewing evidence of microplastic presence in freshwater systems, wastewater treatment plants, and associated biota. Researchers found that wastewater treatment plants are a significant conduit for microplastics into freshwater and marine environments despite their partial removal capacity.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.