Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplásticos em água cinza

This study examined microplastic contamination in greywater (household wastewater from washing), finding that laundry and personal care product use introduce significant quantities of microplastics into domestic wastewater streams. The research highlights greywater as an underexamined pathway of microplastic release into water systems.

2024 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

From drainage to resource: a practice approach to reuse greywater for household irrigation purposes

This study reviewed practical approaches to reusing household greywater for irrigation purposes as a strategy for addressing freshwater scarcity. The research highlights that while treated greywater can reduce potable water consumption, concerns remain about contaminants including microplastics that may be present in greywater streams.

2024 Water Practice & Technology 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Biological Risks of Waste Water for Irrigation

This study examined the biological risks of using treated wastewater for irrigation, including contamination by pathogens, heavy metals, and microplastics, and the implications for agricultural sustainability and public health.

2022 CURRENT TRENDS IN NATURAL SCIENCES 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Characteristics of Microplastics in in a Ship’s Greywater According to Usage Patterns

This study sampled greywater from different ship compartments — galleys, laundries, showers, and washbasins — and found that microplastics were present in all compartments, with laundry being the largest source. The results show that ships discharge significant quantities of microplastics through greywater, which can be legally released directly to the sea in most ocean zones. The findings highlight ships as an important but underregulated source of marine microplastic pollution.

2023
Article Tier 2

Treatment of greywater and presence of microplastics in on-site systems

Researchers investigated microplastic occurrence in on-site wastewater treatment systems used for greywater, finding that these decentralized systems do not fully remove microplastics before discharge. The study highlights a poorly studied pathway for microplastics entering the environment.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in greywater from a research vessel

Microplastics were found in greywater from a research vessel across multiple water usage types, with laundry water showing the highest microplastic concentrations, identifying ships as an underappreciated sea-based source of microplastic pollution.

2023 Environmental Pollution 25 citations
Review Tier 2

A Review of the Current Literature on Sources and Mitigation Strategies of Microplastics in Drinking Water

Researchers reviewed the key sources of microplastic contamination in drinking water — including plastic waste, synthetic clothing, and microbeads in personal care products — and assessed strategies for reducing exposure through improved treatment technologies and stricter regulations on plastic production. The review emphasizes that effective policy, combined with public awareness about single-use plastics, is essential for protecting drinking water quality.

2025 Proceedings of the International Conference of Recent Trends in Environmental Science and Engineering
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Microplastic Abundance and Discharge from Greywater of Ships

Researchers quantified microplastics in ship greywater from showers, washbasins, laundry, and dishwashers and found that laundry sources produced the highest microplastic concentrations. Since greywater can be discharged to the sea without treatment in most areas, ships contribute substantially to marine microplastic pollution. The study supports the case for regulating greywater discharge from vessels.

2023
Article Tier 2

Insights into Global Water Reuse Opportunities

This review examines global opportunities and challenges for reusing treated wastewater, which is becoming increasingly important as water scarcity worsens worldwide. A key concern discussed is that recycled water may contain emerging contaminants including microplastics that current treatment methods do not fully remove. The findings highlight the need for advanced treatment technologies to ensure that water reuse does not become a pathway for microplastic exposure in communities.

2023 Sustainability 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Treated wastewater irrigation: unlocking sustainability in agriculture and food security—a comprehensive review

This comprehensive review explores treated wastewater as an alternative irrigation source for agriculture in water-scarce regions. While treated wastewater can improve soil fertility and crop growth, the review notes concerns about contaminants including microplastics that can accumulate in soil and potentially enter the food chain, emphasizing the need for effective treatment technologies.

2026 Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in wastewaters and their potential effects on aquatic and terrestrial biota

This review of over 200 studies found that microplastics from wastewater are contaminating both aquatic and land environments, especially when treated wastewater or sewage sludge is used for irrigation. The microplastics can harm fish, soil organisms, plants, and microbial communities, and they serve as carriers for other toxic pollutants. The findings highlight that wastewater is a major pathway through which microplastics reach farmland and, ultimately, human food and drinking water.

2023 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Wastewater on the Soil–Plant–Atmosphere Interface: Challenges and Remediation Approaches

This review examines the wide-ranging impacts of using wastewater for agricultural irrigation, covering effects on soil health, crop safety, and greenhouse gas emissions. Among the many concerns discussed, microplastics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria emerging from wastewater reuse are flagged as growing threats requiring better monitoring and policy responses. For readers interested in microplastics, the paper highlights how irrigation with wastewater is one of the pathways by which plastic particles enter farmland soils and ultimately the food chain.

2025 Science and Society Insights 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Sources and Leakages of Microplastics in Cruise Ship Wastewater

Researchers investigated microplastic sources and leakages from cruise ship wastewater systems, finding that onboard laundry, food waste processing, and sewage treatment all contribute microplastics to discharge, with poorly filtered grey water representing a significant and underregulated pathway to the ocean.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Perception and impact of micropollutants in urine-based liquid fertilizer on crop production: A comprehensive review of Eco-sanitation practices

This review explores the promise and risks of using human urine as a crop fertilizer, noting it contains valuable nitrogen and phosphorus but also pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, and microplastics that can contaminate soil and enter food crops. The presence of microplastics in urine-derived fertilizer is identified as a safety concern that adds to the already complex risk calculus of eco-sanitation practices. The paper underscores how microplastics have permeated even novel, low-tech agricultural inputs, complicating otherwise sustainable approaches.

2023 Journal of Applied and Advanced Research
Article Tier 2

[Presence of microplastics in water and the potential impact on public health].

This review summarizes what is known about microplastic contamination in drinking water and its potential effects on human health, noting that plastics can enter water supplies through weathering and industrial processes. The authors highlight concerns about physical toxicity, chemical leaching, and the role of microplastics as carriers for pathogens and pollutants, calling for more research and regulatory attention.

2019 Revista espanola de salud publica
Article Tier 2

Characterisation and Pollutant Load of Greywater Containing Personal Care Cosmetic Products (pccps) for Body Care

Researchers characterized greywater from bathing activities containing personal care products, measuring concentrations of residual ingredients that enter household wastewater. Many personal care products contain plastic microbeads and synthetic polymer ingredients that contribute to microplastic loads in domestic wastewater.

2023 INDONESIAN JOURNAL OF URBAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
Article Tier 2

Health risks from non-potable use of recycled water in buildings. Part 2 - Greywater

This review describes the physical, chemical, and microbiological quality of greywater and examines the health risks associated with its non-potable reuse in buildings through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact exposure pathways. The authors recommend combining treated water quality standards with technology performance requirements (expressed as log reductions of reference pathogens) and safe-use behavioral guidance for public health protection.

2022 Hygiena
Article Tier 2

Emerging Pollutants in Wastewater: A Challenge for Water Reuse

This review examines emerging pollutants in wastewater as a central challenge for water reuse strategies, covering contaminants present at both domestic and industrial scales. It evaluates the sustainability benefits and treatment hurdles associated with recycling wastewater to address global water scarcity.

2025 Advances in water security
Systematic Review Tier 1

Emerging and traditional contaminants in water resources: a review from the perspective of the American continent

This systematic review examines emerging contaminants in water resources across the Americas, including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. The findings show that current water treatment systems are often inadequate for removing these pollutants, meaning people may be exposed to microplastics and other harmful substances through their drinking water.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 1 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics pollution in water is a threat for human health and the environment (literature review)

This literature review examines the growing problem of microplastic contamination in water bodies and drinking water worldwide. Evidence indicates that microplastics pose concerns for human health both through their physical effects and through the chemicals and microorganisms they can carry, with studies confirming their presence in marine and freshwater environments across multiple countries.

2023 Health risk analysis 6 citations