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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Implications of the transition towards water-wise approaches in urban areas: Elucidating the risk from micropollutants release
ClearFrom Aquifer to Tap: Comprehensive Quali-Quantitative Evaluation of Plastic Particles Along a Drinking Water Supply Chain of Milan (Northern Italy)
Researchers conducted the first evaluation of plastic particle contamination along a complete drinking water supply chain in Milan, Italy, from groundwater extraction to household taps. The study found low concentrations of plastic particles, ranging from about 0.3 to 1.9 particles per liter, with cellulose dominating at 76% and no significant increase observed along the distribution chain.
An Analytical Framework for Determining the Ecological Risks of Wastewater Discharges in River Networks Under Climate Change
Researchers developed an analytical framework to assess ecological risks from wastewater treatment plant discharges into river networks under climate change scenarios, finding that reduced river flows from climate change will amplify ecological risks from effluent contaminants including microplastics.
Which\nMicropollutants in Water Environments Deserve\nMore Attention Globally?
This review analyzed which organic micropollutants in water environments deserve the most global attention based on their toxicity, occurrence frequency, and persistence. Microplastics are among the contaminants considered, alongside pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals that routinely escape conventional water treatment and accumulate in aquatic ecosystems.
Which\nMicropollutants in Water Environments Deserve\nMore Attention Globally?
This review analyzed which organic micropollutants in water environments deserve the most global attention based on their toxicity, occurrence frequency, and persistence. Microplastics are among the contaminants considered, alongside pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals that routinely escape conventional water treatment and accumulate in aquatic ecosystems.
Method development and optimization for assessing microplastic distribution in a drinking water treatment plant: insights into seasonal variation and spatial dissemination from an Italian study.
Researchers developed and optimized methods for measuring microplastic distribution in complex environmental and food matrices, addressing challenges posed by the diverse size, shape, and chemical composition of particles. The optimized protocol improved detection sensitivity and reduced contamination artifacts.
Removal of Emerging Contaminants Using Low-Cost and Advanced Treatment Technologies: Evidence from Six Indian Cities
Researchers monitored pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and microplastics across six major Indian urban-river systems and assessed seasonal dynamics and treatment efficiency at wastewater plants, finding that conventional treatment largely fails to remove these emerging contaminants.
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.
Microplastics in urban water systems, Tehran Metropolitan, Iran
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination across Tehran's urban water systems, including runoff, drinking water, groundwater, rivers, and wastewater effluent. They found microplastics present in all parts of the system, with residential and commercial runoff showing the highest concentrations. The study revealed that different land use types influenced the amount and characteristics of microplastic pollution, suggesting that urbanization patterns play a significant role in water contamination.
Microplastics pollution from wastewater treatment plants: A critical review on challenges, detection, sustainable removal techniques and circular economy
This review critically examines the challenges of detecting and removing microplastics from wastewater treatment plants, evaluating sustainable removal technologies and circular economy approaches to address this persistent source of aquatic microplastic pollution.
Extraction and Characterization of Microplastics from Portuguese Industrial Effluents
Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in effluents from multiple Portuguese industrial sectors, finding that various well-established industries contribute to microplastic release into wastewater and pose risks of contaminating aquifers.
The urban microplastic footprint: investigating the distribution and transport
Researchers investigated the distribution and transport of microplastics within an urban environment, mapping the 'urban microplastic footprint' to understand how city infrastructure and land use patterns drive the spatial distribution and downstream export of plastic particles to receiving water bodies.
Removal of microplastics from wastewater: available techniques and way forward
This review surveys available techniques for removing microplastics from wastewater within a circular economy framework, discussing innovative treatment technologies, integrated risk-based approaches, and regulatory and economic guidelines needed to advance water resource recovery facilities beyond conventional pollutant removal.
Microplastic sampling strategies in urban drainage systems for quantification of urban emissions based on transport pathways
Researchers developed and applied microplastic sampling strategies across an entire urban municipal catchment under both dry and wet weather conditions, finding that wastewater treatment plants remove over 96% of microplastics but still emit 189 kg per year, while wet-weather emissions from high-traffic subcatchments reached 1,952 grams per population equivalent per year, far exceeding dry-weather levels.
Method development and optimization for assessing microplastic distribution in a drinking water treatment plant: insights into seasonal variation and spatial dissemination from an Italian study.
This study developed and optimized methods for assessing microplastic distribution in a specific environmental matrix, addressing analytical challenges related to particle extraction, identification, and quantification. Optimized protocols improved recovery efficiency and reduced contamination artifacts, supporting more reliable monitoring of microplastic pollution.
AI-based wastewater treatment for a circular economy and sustainable management of PFAS, heavy metals, microplastics, and antibiotics
This review examined how artificial intelligence can be integrated into wastewater treatment systems to improve removal of emerging contaminants including PFAS, heavy metals, microplastics, and antibiotics. The authors conclude that AI-driven optimization offers significant potential for a circular economy approach to water treatment.
A threat beneath the surface: Microplastic contamination in the groundwater of one of Europe's largest wetland complexes
Researchers confirmed microplastic contamination in groundwater samples from one of the world's most populous regions, documenting particle abundance, polymer types, and potential infiltration pathways from surface contamination through soil to subsurface aquifers.
Contaminants in Urban Stormwater: Barcelona case study
Researchers analyzed contaminants in urban stormwater runoff in Barcelona, examining dissolved organics, metals, nutrients, and microplastics to assess risks to environmental and public health as cities consider stormwater as a potential groundwater recharge source.
Estimating fossil carbon contributions from chemicals and microplastics in Sweden's urban wastewater systems: A model-based approach
A modeling study estimated that fossil-derived carbon makes up roughly 12–17% of the total carbon flowing into Swedish municipal wastewater treatment plants, with microplastics accounting for about 13% of that fossil carbon fraction. This is relevant because wastewater treatment plants emit greenhouse gases, and IPCC guidelines now require accounting for fossil carbon separately from biogenic carbon in those emissions. The study provides a practical framework for other countries to estimate plastic-derived fossil carbon contributions to wastewater emissions inventories.
Safe and sustainable water in cities
This perspective piece on urban water management notes that microplastics are among several emerging contaminants threatening city water supplies, alongside industrial chemicals and agricultural runoff. It reinforces that microplastics are now considered a mainstream water quality concern alongside traditional pollutants as cities plan for future water security.
Risk Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Urban Discharge Fraction and Eutrophication in Large European River Networks
Researchers assessed how climate change could worsen water quality in European rivers by increasing nutrient pollution from urban areas. While not focused on microplastics, this study highlights the broader environmental pressures on freshwater systems that also carry microplastic contamination.
Multidisciplinary analysis of microplastic dynamics: from sources to environmental fate in urban rivers during floods
Researchers conducted a multidisciplinary investigation of microplastic dynamics in urban rivers, combining flume experiments on riparian vegetation, polymer-specific quantification using PLE-Py-GC/MS, and a catchment-scale connectivity model to map land-to-river microplastic transport within the Arno basin.
Quantifying the Invisible - Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Urban Water Cycle
This review examines the presence and behavior of micro- and nanoplastics throughout the urban water cycle, from surface runoff to drinking water treatment. Urban water systems are both a source and a pathway for microplastic transport, making city-level water management critical for reducing human exposure.
Effectiveness of conventional municipal wastewater treatment plants in microplastics removal: Insights from multiple analytical techniques
Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of conventional municipal wastewater treatment plants in removing microplastics across multiple treatment stages, finding removal efficiencies of 70–90% but documenting that billions of particles still pass through in final effluent daily.
Transforming Pollution into Purity: Ensuring Water Quality for Human Health and Environmental Sustainability
This review examines global threats to water quality from contaminants including microplastics, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals, and their consequences for human health and ecosystems. The authors advocate for a comprehensive strategy combining source protection, advanced treatment technologies like constructed wetlands and advanced oxidation, and robust governance to ensure safe water access.