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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Abundance and seasonal variation of microplastics in the effluents of a wastewater treatment plant: A case study in Greece
ClearMicroplastics in Mediterranean coastal wastewater treatment plants: Seasonal trends driven by tourism and weather conditions
Researchers monitored microplastics at two Mediterranean coastal wastewater treatment plants in Spain, finding influent concentrations of 30-75 particles/L with seasonal peaks in warmer months, removal efficiencies of 73-86%, and significant correlations between microplastic concentrations and both temperature and precipitation, with polypropylene and polyethylene dominating polymer profiles.
Occurrence of Microplastics across Seasonal Variations in a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant in Thailand
Researchers monitored microplastic concentrations at a Thai municipal wastewater treatment plant across rainy, winter, and summer seasons of 2023–2024. Microplastic levels were highest during the rainy season, demonstrating that seasonal variation and rainfall significantly influence microplastic abundance and treatment efficiency.
Long-term investigation on the daily variability of microplastic concentration and composition - Monitoring in the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant
Daily monitoring of a German wastewater treatment plant's outflow over one month revealed large day-to-day swings in the concentration of discharged microplastics, ranging nearly tenfold, with no clear link to rainfall or flow rate. The finding shows that occasional grab samples dramatically misrepresent true microplastic discharge loads, and that continuous or frequent sampling is needed for accurate environmental monitoring.
Microplastic distributions in a domestic wastewater treatment plant: Removal efficiency, seasonal variation and influence of sampling technique
A year-long study of a municipal wastewater treatment plant found 97% removal efficiency for microplastics overall, but fibers made up a larger proportion of remaining particles in treated water than in raw sewage, and winter samples had notably higher microplastic concentrations. The study highlights seasonal variation as an important factor in assessing wastewater microplastic loads.
Spatial and Seasonal Abundance of Microplastics in Sand and Aqueous Matrices from Coastal Areas of Northern Greece
Researchers collected and analyzed microplastics from wastewater effluents, beach sand, and seawater in Northern Greece over one year to capture seasonal variation. MP abundance varied seasonally, with higher concentrations in summer months likely linked to increased tourism and beach activity.
Microplastics in an urban wastewater treatment plant: The influence of physicochemical parameters and environmental factors
Microplastics were quantified across four treatment stages of an urban wastewater treatment plant, finding an overall 90.3% removal efficiency with fragments and fibers dominating the final effluent, and identifying rainfall events and seasonal variation as significant factors affecting MP concentrations. The study highlights the importance of environmental variables when monitoring MP removal at WWTPs.
Long-Term Monitoring of Microplastics in a German Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant
Researchers conducted long-term monitoring of microplastics in a German municipal wastewater treatment plant, tracking seasonal and annual changes in influent and effluent concentrations and assessing the plant's overall plastic retention efficiency.
Identification and Analysis of Plastic Microparticles in the Inlet and Outlet of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Investigation of the Relationship between Different Seasons of the Year with the Amount of Production and Emission of Particles
Researchers identified and characterized microplastics at the inlet and outlet of a wastewater treatment plant across different seasons, finding that conventional treatment fails to fully remove microplastics and that particle concentrations and types varied with seasonal changes.
A Methodology for the Estimation of Microplastic Concentration in Relation to the Meteorological Forcing and WWTPs Effluents in Urban Coastal Areas
Researchers developed a hydrodynamic modeling approach to estimate how microplastics from wastewater treatment plant effluents are distributed along an urban coastline in Greece, accounting for tides and weather. The methodology offers a way to predict microplastic hotspots in coastal waters and could inform better management of treatment plant discharges.
Characteristics and seasonal variation of microplastics in the wastewater treatment plant: The case of Bursa deep sea discharge
Researchers monitored microplastic characteristics and seasonal variation in wastewater and sludge from a treatment plant in Bursa-Gemlik, Turkey over 12 months, finding that the plant is a significant point source of microplastic release into the sea with seasonal fluctuations in abundance and composition.
Microplastics in an advanced wastewater treatment plant: sustained and robust removal rates unfazed by seasonal variations
Researchers evaluated microplastic removal at an advanced wastewater treatment plant discharging into the Mediterranean Sea across three seasonal campaigns. The plant achieved removal rates above 99% consistently, with efficiency remaining robust even during rainy and high-tourism periods. The study found that primary treatment stages, particularly coagulation and settling, were most effective at capturing microplastics, with polyester being the predominant polymer type detected.
Long-Term Occurrence and Fate of Microplastics in WWTPs: A Case Study in Southwest Europe
A long-term monitoring study of a wastewater treatment plant in southwest Europe tracked microplastic concentrations across all treatment stages over multiple sampling campaigns, finding consistent plastic removal in the range of 90% but with treated effluent and sludge still containing substantial amounts. The study demonstrates the value of repeated sampling for understanding seasonal and operational variability in microplastic fate at WWTPs.
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.
Quantification and Characterization of Microplastics in Seven Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants
Wastewater treatment plants are a key pathway through which microplastics enter rivers and coastal waters, and this six-month study across seven Spanish treatment plants found that conventional processes offer inconsistent and often inadequate protection. Microplastics were present in all samples, and in some cases effluent concentrations were nearly as high as influent concentrations — meaning the plants were adding little removal value for plastic particles. The dominance of synthetic fibers and the seasonal variation observed point to the need for better tertiary treatment steps to capture microplastics before discharge.
Seasonal variation and complex analysis of microplastic distribution in different WWTP treatment stages in Lithuania
A seasonal 12-month monitoring study of a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Lithuania measured microplastic concentrations in wastewater and sludge through all treatment stages. Microplastics were detected throughout the plant with overall removal efficiencies above 90%, but seasonal variation in inflow concentrations reflected climate-driven changes in stormwater inputs.
Seasonal Variations in Microplastic Abundance and Removal Efficiency in Wastewater Treatment Plants in Bangkok, Thailand
A study of Bangkok wastewater treatment plants found microplastic removal efficiency ranged from 16–85% depending on season, with higher microplastic abundance during the wet season and PET, PE, and PP fibers as the dominant polymer types in both influent and effluent.
Seasonal variation and removal efficiency of microplastics in wastewater treatment: a year-long study across three municipal water reclamation plants
A year-long study across three municipal water reclamation plants found significant seasonal variation in microplastic concentrations and removal efficiencies, with effective but incomplete removal leaving residual microplastics in effluent that posed low to medium ecological risks to receiving water bodies.
Occurrence and Seasonal Variation of Microplastics in the Effluent from Wastewater Treatment Plants in Qingdao, China
Microplastic characteristics in effluents from five wastewater treatment plants in Qingdao, China were analyzed in winter and summer, finding fibers dominated by rayon and PET with average concentrations higher in winter, confirming WWTPs as a significant source of microplastics to the marine environment.
Occurrence Characterization and Contamination Risk Evaluation of Microplastics in Hefei’s Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant
Researchers characterized microplastic contamination at various stages of a wastewater treatment plant in Hefei, China, under both dry and rainy weather conditions. They found that while the treatment process removed a significant portion of microplastics, notable amounts still passed into the effluent, with rain increasing contamination levels. The study provides a detailed assessment of how effectively current wastewater treatment technology handles microplastic pollution.
Unravelling capability of municipal wastewater treatment plant in Thailand for microplastics: Effects of seasonality on detection, fate and transport
Microplastic fate and transport in a wastewater treatment plant in Nonthaburi, Thailand were tracked during both dry and wet seasons, finding that seasonal variation in flow rates and influent composition affected microplastic removal efficiency and the polymer types discharged to the receiving environment.
Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics and Removal Efficiency of Microplastics in a Wastewater Treatment Plant
Researchers examined microplastic removal efficiency across three seasons at a wastewater treatment plant in Zhengzhou, China, sampling influent, process effluent, and final effluent. They found an overall removal efficiency of 86%, with polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate as the dominant polymer types and fragment- and granule-shaped particles comprising over 80% of microplastics detected.
Microplastics in the Estuarine Area of the Pineios River: Seasonal Trends and Variability
Researchers examined microplastic concentrations and distribution patterns in the estuary area of Greece's Pineios River, finding clear seasonal variation with much higher levels in summer, and differences between sediment and water samples reflecting particle morphology and human activity patterns.
Microplastic contamination in urban aquatic environments: Occurrence characteristics in urban streams and stormwater runoff from urban surfaces
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in urban streams and stormwater runoff across different seasons and found that wastewater treatment plant discharges were a major source during dry weather. During rainy periods, stormwater runoff from roads and rooftops contributed additional microplastics, predominantly fibers and fragments. The study highlights that urban water systems receive microplastic pollution from multiple pathways year-round.
Comparative Distribution of Microplastics in Different Inland Aquatic Ecosystems
Researchers sampled seven Greek inland aquatic ecosystems of varying types and found microplastics in all locations, with fibers dominating (0.47–149.4 items/m³) and higher concentrations in vertical than surface samples, indicating that morphology, trophic status, and anthropogenic pressure influence distribution.