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. Detection Methods Environmental Sources Food & Water Human Health Effects Marine & Wildlife Policy & Risk Remediation Sign in to save

Microplastics detection and characterisation in the urban water cycle of Geneva, Switzerland: Assessing the supply network impacts

Chemosphere 2025 1 citation ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 53 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Angel Negrete Velasco, Angel Negrete Velasco, Lina Ramirez Arenas, Lina Ramirez Arenas, Angel Negrete Velasco, Lina Ramirez Arenas, Angel Negrete Velasco, Serge Stoll Lina Ramirez Arenas, Angel Negrete Velasco, Angel Negrete Velasco, Delphine Borboën, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Serge Stoll Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Philippe Le Coustumer, Serge Stoll Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Serge Stoll Serge Stoll Delphine Borboën, Serge Stoll Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Philippe Le Coustumer, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphane Zimmermann, Philippe Le Coustumer, Serge Stoll Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphane Zimmermann, Serge Stoll Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Philippe Le Coustumer, Philippe Le Coustumer, Philippe Le Coustumer, Serge Stoll Serge Stoll Serge Stoll Serge Stoll Serge Stoll Serge Stoll Stéphan Ramseier Gentile, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Serge Stoll Pascal Ramaciotti, Pascal Ramaciotti, Serge Stoll Serge Stoll Stéphane Zimmermann, Stéphane Zimmermann, Pascal Ramaciotti, Pascal Ramaciotti, Pascal Ramaciotti, Serge Stoll Serge Stoll Pascal Ramaciotti, Pascal Ramaciotti, Pauline Perdaems, Pauline Perdaems, Pauline Perdaems, Philippe Le Coustumer, Pauline Perdaems, Philippe Le Coustumer, Serge Stoll Pauline Perdaems, Pauline Perdaems, Philippe Le Coustumer, B. Jeanneret, Serge Stoll Lina Ramirez Arenas, Serge Stoll Philippe Le Coustumer, Serge Stoll Serge Stoll

Summary

Researchers conducted a comprehensive survey of microplastic contamination across Geneva's entire urban water cycle, from raw water sources through drinking water treatment to wastewater plant effluents. They found that conventional drinking water treatment removed 97% of microplastics, but the distribution network itself reintroduced contamination, increasing levels from 10 to roughly 25 particles per cubic meter. The study highlights that water supply infrastructure is an overlooked source of microplastic exposure for consumers.

Study Type Environmental

Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly detected in aquatic environments and are a growing concern due to their persistence, mobility, and potential risks to ecosystems and human health. This study aims to investigate the presence of MPs (>20 μm) across the urban water cycle of Geneva (Switzerland). The scope of the assessment includes large water volumes (50-2000 L) of raw water sources (groundwater and surface water), drinking water treatment, water supply network, and effluents of three wastewater treatment plants. MPs concentrations, size distributions, and chemical compositions were determined across these interconnected systems. Sampling and analysis followed a strict quality assurance protocol aligned with current MP analysis guidelines and standards. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterise MPs. Geneva's main conventional drinking water treatment plant (serving approximately 500,000 consumers) showed high removal efficiency, reducing MPs concentrations from 640 ± 292 MP/m3 in raw water to 10 ± 6 MP/m3 after treatment (including coagulation, sand filtration, ozonation and granular activated carbon filtration), demonstrating a removal efficiency of 97 ± 3 %. Groundwater samples showed low concentration of MPs (8 ± 7 MP/m3). However, the drinking water supply network (DWSN) contributed to an increase of MPs concentration, with values equal to 27 ± 37 MP/m3 in the eastern section and 23 ± 19 MP/m3 in the western section. Effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) exhibited the highest concentrations, averaging 5829 ± 5108 MP/m3. This study highlights the importance of full-cycle monitoring and supports the need for improved mitigation strategies across all stages of the urban water cycle.

Read via DOI PubMed Download PDF

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email