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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Occurrence and analysis of microplastics in municipal wastewater, Poland
ClearA Survey of Microplastic Pollution from Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent Within the Lake Champlain Basin
A survey of wastewater treatment plant effluent found that microplastics — primarily fibers from synthetic clothing — pass through treatment processes and are discharged to waterways. The study highlights treated wastewater as a major pathway for microfiber microplastics to enter rivers and coastal waters.
Occurrence and Characteristics of Microplastics in a Wastewater Treatment Plant
Researchers sampled the inflow, outflow, and sludge of a Chinese wastewater treatment plant, finding up to 44 microplastic particles per liter in incoming water — mostly polyester fibers. The plant removed about 96% of microplastics, but the remaining fraction was still discharged into receiving waterways.
Microplastic Types in the Wastewater System—A Comparison of Material Flow-Based Source Estimates and the Measurement-Based Load to a Wastewater Treatment Plant
This study compared model-based estimates of microplastic sources in wastewater with actual measurements at a treatment plant, finding that synthetic textiles were the dominant source of microplastic fibers. The results help prioritize which pollution sources to address first in efforts to reduce microplastics entering waterways from sewage treatment.
Assessing the Occurrence and Distribution of Microplastics in Surface Freshwater and Wastewaters of Latvia and Lithuania
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in surface water and wastewater across four Baltic cities in Latvia and Lithuania, finding an average of 16.63 particles/L with fibers as the dominant shape and polyethylene terephthalate as the most common polymer, with municipal and hospital wastewater identified as the primary contamination sources.
Microplastics in municipal wastewater treatment plants in Turkey: a comparison of the influent and secondary effluent concentrations
Microplastics were detected in both influent and secondary effluent at two wastewater treatment plants in Turkey, with fibers as the predominant type in both streams. The study confirms that Turkish wastewater systems discharge substantial numbers of microplastic particles into receiving waters, consistent with findings from other countries.
Influence of wastewater treatment process on pollution characteristics and fate of microplastics
Researchers investigated microplastic abundance and removal efficiency across four wastewater treatment plants using different treatment technologies, finding influent concentrations between 539 and 1,290 particles per liter that were reduced substantially by primary and secondary treatment. Smaller microplastic particles proved hardest to remove and most likely to persist in final effluent.
Identification and quantification of microplastics in wastewater treatment plant effluent: Investigation of the fate and biological effects
This study identified and quantified microplastics in wastewater treatment plant effluents and sludge, finding particles in all samples with fibers being the dominant type. The research contributes to understanding how much microplastic reaches surface waters via wastewater discharge and how much is captured in sludge that is subsequently applied to agricultural land.
Fate of microplastics in wastewater treatment plants and their environmental dispersion with effluent and sludge
Researchers tracked microplastics through a wastewater treatment plant and found 12 different polymer types in effluents and sludge, with smaller particles (25–104 μm) most abundant and fibres displaying lower sizes than fragments. The study demonstrates that WWTPs do not fully remove microplastics and that processed sludge marketed as soil amendment carries plastic contamination.
Wastewater treatment plant effluent and microfiber pollution: focus on industry-specific wastewater
Researchers examined microfiber pollution from wastewater treatment plant effluent, finding that industry-specific wastewater from textile operations released significantly higher concentrations of synthetic microfibers compared to municipal sources.
Analysis of microplastic particles in the Pilica River catchment (Poland) using FTIR imaging microscopy
Researchers analyzed microplastic distribution across the Pilica River catchment in Poland, assessing contributions from wastewater treatment plants as a key point source. Wastewater treatment plant effluents were identified as a major pathway for microplastic entry into the river system.
Microplastic pollution in the German aquatic environment: Existence, interactions and research needs
This review examines microplastic pollution in German waterways and wastewater treatment plants, finding concentrations as high as 11,050 particles per liter in rivers. Fibers were the most common shape, and polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene were the dominant polymer types, mostly coming from municipal and industrial wastewater. The authors highlight that despite being Europe's largest economy, Germany has surprisingly limited research on this issue and call for standardized measurement methods.
Microplastic pollution is widely detected in US municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent
Researchers conducted a wide survey of US municipal wastewater treatment plants and found microplastics widely present in effluent, confirming that conventional treatment does not fully remove microplastics and that treatment plants are ongoing sources of environmental contamination.
Microplastic in wastewater treatment plants in Telemark
Microplastics were detected in both the incoming and outgoing wastewater and in the sludge of treatment plants in Norway's Telemark region, confirming that wastewater treatment plants are both sinks and sources of microplastic pollution. The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence on the role of wastewater treatment in microplastic cycling.
Microplastics in Wastewater by Washing Polyester Fabrics
Researchers investigated microplastic fiber release from polyester fabrics during washing, characterizing the quantity and types of microplastics generated and their potential pathway into wastewater systems as a significant source of environmental microplastic pollution.
Municipal effluent as a potential source of microplastics in the aquatic environment
This review examined municipal wastewater treatment plants as potential sources of microplastics—including microbeads from personal care products and synthetic fibers from laundry—in aquatic environments. While modern treatment plants remove a significant fraction of microplastics, they may still discharge millions of particles per day and their capacity to remove the smallest particles is limited.
Microplastics in wastewater treatment plants of Wuhan, Central China: Abundance, removal, and potential source in household wastewater
Two wastewater treatment plants in Wuhan, China, removed 62-66% of incoming microplastics, and household sources including clothing laundering, facial cleansers, and toothpaste were identified as dominant contributors. Washing one kilogram of clothing released over 150,000 fibers, making laundry the largest single household microplastic source.
The significant impacts of laundry wastewater on microplastics: a case study in a residential area
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in laundry wastewater from a residential area and tracked their contribution to urban drainage, finding that laundry effluent is a significant and underestimated source of microfibers entering municipal sewer systems and subsequently rivers.
Microplastic fibre releases from industrial wastewater effluent: a textile wet-processing mill in China
Researchers sampled industrial wastewater from a textile wet-processing mill in China and found an average of 361.6 microplastic fibers per liter in the effluent, with 92% shorter than 1000 micrometers. The study suggests that industrial textile processing is a significant point source of microplastic fiber pollution that has been understudied relative to domestic laundering, and that targeting these effluents could meaningfully reduce global microfiber releases.
Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in domestic, industrial, agricultural and aquacultural wastewater sources: A case study in Changzhou, China
Researchers investigated microplastic occurrence across diverse wastewater sources in Changzhou, China, including domestic, industrial, agricultural, and aquaculture facilities. The study found microplastics present in all types of wastewater, with varying compositions and abundances, highlighting the multiple pathways through which microplastics enter the environment from human activities.
Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Characteristics, Occurrence and Removal Technologies
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.