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Release of primary microplastics from consumer products to wastewater in the Netherlands
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Researchers estimated the release of primary microplastics from consumer products — including cosmetics, cleaning agents, and paint — into Dutch wastewater, finding sewage effluent concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 66 μg/L depending on scenario assumptions. All product categories contributed to microplastic loads reaching surface waters via sewage treatment plant effluent.
The authors estimate the release of primary microplastics from consumer products-cosmetics and personal care products, cleaning agents, and paint and coatings-via sewage effluent as an expected relevant route to the marine environment. Total estimated concentrations in the 3 scenarios are 0.2 μg/L, 2.7 μg/L, and 66 μg/L in sewage-treatment plant (STP) effluent, respectively. All product categories relevantly contribute. Predicted concentrations are compared with reported actual concentrations in STP effluents. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1627-1631. © 2015 SETAC.
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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.