Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Mechanistic insight into the role of typical microplastics in chlorination disinfection: Precursors and adsorbents of both MP-DOM and DBPs

Chlorination of polypropylene and polystyrene microplastics released dissolved organic matter that formed disinfection by-products, with PS-MPs being more susceptible to chlorination; the study found that even small MPs in drinking water can contribute to DBP precursor loads during treatment.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on DBPs formation under the chlorination of natural organic matters

Researchers investigated how microplastics affect disinfection byproduct formation during chlorination of natural organic matter in water treatment, finding that the presence of microplastics can influence the generation of potentially harmful DBPs.

2022 Chemosphere 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Insight into the dynamic transformation properties of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter and its contribution to the formation of chlorination disinfection by-products

Researchers studied how dissolved organic matter released from microplastics transforms under UV light and how it contributes to the formation of harmful disinfection byproducts during water chlorination. They found that UV exposure changed the chemical composition of the microplastic-derived organic matter, affecting its reactivity during disinfection. The findings suggest that microplastics in water sources may indirectly increase the formation of potentially harmful chemicals during standard water treatment.

2024 RSC Advances 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Leaching of organic matters and formation of disinfection by-product as a result of presence of microplastics in natural freshwaters

Researchers found that microplastics leach dissolved organic carbon into freshwater, and when combined with chlorine disinfection, this leached material promotes the formation of disinfection byproducts like chloroform in drinking water treatment.

2022 Chemosphere 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Volatile organic compounds generation pathways and mechanisms from microplastics in water: Ultraviolet, chlorine and ultraviolet/chlorine disinfection

Researchers examined how UV, chlorine, and combined UV/chlorine disinfection treatments cause microplastics to release volatile organic compounds, identifying distinct degradation pathways for polypropylene, polystyrene, and PVC that generate diverse chemical byproducts in treated water.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Leaching of organic matter from microplastics and its role in disinfection by-product formation

Researchers found that microplastics leach organic matter into water that subsequently acts as a precursor for disinfection by-products during chlorination, with polystyrene MPs generating the most leachate and producing the most by-products compared to polyethylene MPs.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 18 citations
Article Tier 2

The aging and pollution behavior of microplastics in tap water supply system subjected to residual chlorine exposure

Researchers studied how residual chlorine in tap water distribution systems ages ABS and polycarbonate microplastics, finding that chlorine exposure caused surface changes and increased hydrophilicity of the particles. The aging microplastics released dissolved organic matter into the water and, when interacting with chlorine, produced trichloromethane, a disinfection byproduct. The findings suggest that microplastics in drinking water infrastructure may contribute to the formation of harmful chemical byproducts.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling the optical and molecular characteristics of aging microplastics derived dissolved organic matter transformed by UV/chlor(am)ine oxidation and its potential for disinfection byproducts formation

Researchers studied how UV light and common water disinfection chemicals break down microplastics in water and found that different treatment methods produce different types of dissolved organic matter from the plastic. Some treatment combinations, particularly UV with chlorine, created byproducts that could form harmful disinfection byproducts when water is later chlorinated. This is important because it means water treatment processes might unintentionally create new toxic compounds from the microplastics already present in water.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 61 citations
Article Tier 2

The fate of microplastics and organic matter leaching behavior during chlorination

Researchers studied how chlorination affects polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics and the organic matter they release, finding that chlorination promoted organic carbon leaching from microplastics at about 0.3 to 0.5 parts per thousand of the plastic mass. The leached organic matter showed significant potential to form trihalomethane and haloacetonitrile disinfection byproducts, raising concerns about chlorinated microplastics in drinking water systems.

2022 Chemosphere 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of microplastic polymer-derived dissolved organic matter and its potential as a disinfection byproduct precursor

UV irradiation caused polypropylene and polyethylene microplastics to leach dissolved organic matter into water, producing low-molecular-weight compounds that could react with chlorine during water treatment to form trihalomethanes, a known class of disinfection byproducts and carcinogens. The findings suggest that microplastics in source water could be a previously unrecognized precursor to harmful disinfection byproducts.

2020 Water Research 209 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of polypropylene microplastics on the DBP formation under the chlorination and chloramination processes

Researchers investigated the formation of six disinfection by-products (DBPs) during chlorination and chloramination of water in the presence of polypropylene microplastics (PP MPs) under varying aquatic chemistry conditions. They found that PP MPs acted as DBP precursors under chlorination, but co-presence of Suwannee River Fulvic acid suppressed DBP formation by 56%, with pH and salinity further modulating the balance between PP as a precursor or organic scavenger.

2022 Chemosphere 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Release of microplastics from pipe materials and their impact on stagnant water

Researchers examined microplastic release from four common pipe materials into stagnant drinking water and found that PVC pipes released the highest amount, reaching 114,000 particles per liter. The microplastics accelerated chlorine decay, increased turbidity, elevated organic carbon levels, and facilitated microbial growth in the water. The findings raise concerns about drinking water quality in building plumbing systems where water stagnation is common.

2024 Journal of Water Process Engineering 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and nitrogenous disinfection byproducts in drinking water: complex interactions beyond adsorption

This study examined how microplastics in drinking water interact with nitrogenous disinfection byproducts (DBPs)—among the most toxic disinfection products—beyond simple adsorption. Researchers found that microplastics can modify DBP formation during water chlorination and alter their bioavailability, complicating risk assessment for treated drinking water containing both microplastics and disinfection byproducts.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and chemical leachates from plastic pipes are associated with increased virulence and antimicrobial resistance potential of drinking water microbial communities

Researchers found that microplastics and chemical leachates released from polypropylene drinking water pipes can promote antimicrobial resistance and virulence in the microbial communities that form inside the pipes. Exposure to chlorination, heating, and freeze-thaw cycles accelerated microplastic generation and chemical leaching from the pipes. The findings suggest that plastic plumbing materials may be an underappreciated factor in drinking water safety.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 28 citations
Article Tier 2

The disinfectant residues promote the leaching of water contaminants from plastic pipe particles

This study found that trace amounts of disinfectants commonly used in water treatment can accelerate the aging of plastic water pipes, causing them to release more contaminants. When plastic pipe particles were exposed to chlorine-based disinfectants and ozone, they leached higher levels of organic chemicals and microplastics into the water. The findings raise concerns about how the interaction between water treatment chemicals and plastic plumbing may affect drinking water quality.

2023 Environmental Pollution 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential disinfection byproducts-related risks to drinking water? Molecular insights into the dissolved organic matter from photodegradation of polyethylene microplastics

This study analyzed the dissolved organic matter released during photodegradation of polyethylene microplastics, finding that sunlight exposure generates complex organic compounds that could act as precursors to disinfection byproducts in drinking water treatment. The results highlight an underappreciated pathway by which microplastics may affect drinking water safety.

2023 ACS ES&T Water 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on water disinfection and formation of disinfection by-products

This review examines how the presence of microplastics in drinking water and wastewater interferes with chlorination and ozonation disinfection processes, potentially reducing their effectiveness and generating harmful disinfection by-products. Microplastics can leach dissolved organic carbon that reacts with disinfectants, and they serve as refuges for antibiotic-resistant bacteria that may survive standard treatment. The authors call for more realistic laboratory experiments and field studies to properly assess the real-world risks that microplastics pose inside water treatment plants.

2025 Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Interactive impacts of microplastics and chlorine on biological stability and microbial community formation in stagnant water

Researchers found that microplastics in stagnant drinking water accelerated chlorine decay and promoted microbial regrowth, with microplastic-associated biofilms harboring opportunistic pathogens and shifting microbial community composition toward potentially harmful species.

2022 Water Research 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Secondary pollution of microplastic hetero-aggregates after chlorination: Released contaminants rarely re-adsorbed by the second-formed hetero-aggregates

Researchers found that microplastic hetero-aggregates in urban water act like 'time bombs': chlorination during water treatment destroys the aggregates and triggers the release of accumulated organic contaminants and microbial metabolites that are poorly re-adsorbed afterward.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in water supply systems: In water and pipe scales

Researchers found microplastics present throughout drinking water supply systems, both in treated water and accumulated within pipe scales, with concentrations in pipe scales being significantly higher than in the water itself.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 113 citations
Article Tier 2

Factors affecting the leaching of micro and nanoplastics in the water distribution system

Researchers studied how plastic water pipes in distribution systems leach micro- and nanoplastics into drinking water under varying conditions of pH, chlorine levels, and pipe material. They found that higher pH and the presence of free chlorine both contributed to increased particle release from the pipes. The findings raise concerns that everyday drinking water infrastructure may be an overlooked source of human microplastic exposure.

2023 Journal of Environmental Management 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of non-aged and UV-aged microplastics on the formation of halogenated disinfection byproducts during chlorination of drinking water and its mechanism

Researchers investigated how both new and UV-aged microplastics affect the formation of halogenated disinfection byproducts during chlorine treatment of drinking water. They found that non-aged microplastics reduced byproduct formation by adsorbing organic precursors, while UV-aged microplastics had a much smaller reduction effect because they release organic compounds that offset adsorption. The study reveals that environmental aging of microplastics changes their impact on drinking water treatment chemistry in important ways.

2024 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and nitrogenous dbps in drinking water: a complex interaction beyond adsorption

Researchers examined the interaction between microplastics and nitrogenous disinfection byproducts in drinking water, investigating how plastic particles may influence the formation or toxicity of these chemical contaminants. The study found that microplastics and nitrogenous disinfection byproducts interact in ways that go beyond simple co-occurrence, potentially altering chemical risks in treated water.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

The Influence of Some Physicochemical Parameters of Surface Waters on the Formation of Trihalomethanes During the Drinking Water Treatment Process

Despite its title referencing trihalomethanes in drinking water treatment, this paper studies disinfection byproducts formed during water chlorination — not microplastic pollution. It examines how water temperature, organic carbon content, and pH affect the formation of potentially carcinogenic chemical compounds in tap water in Romania and is not relevant to microplastics.

2025 Molecules 1 citations