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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Factors affecting the leaching of micro and nanoplastics in the water distribution system
ClearOccurrence and identification of microplastics retained in corrosion deposits of drinking water transmission pipes
Researchers investigated corrosion deposits inside drinking water pipes and found that microplastics and nanoplastics become trapped within the porous, rusty buildup. These trapped particles can be released back into the water supply when conditions change, such as during pipe maintenance or water pressure shifts. The study raises concerns about drinking water pipes serving as hidden reservoirs of microplastic contamination.
The Behaviour of Polymeric Pipes in Drinking Water Distribution System. Comparison with Other Pipe Materials
This paper is not directly about microplastics; it reviews how different pipe materials used in drinking water distribution systems leach chemicals, corrode, and support microbial growth, focusing on metal and polymer pipes and their impact on water quality.
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.
Chemical and microbiological safety of drinking water in distribution networks made of plastic pipes
Researchers examined the safety of drinking water distributed through plastic pipes made of PVC and HDPE, which are increasingly replacing metal pipes. They found that these plastic pipes can leach chemical compounds into the water and may promote different microbial growth patterns compared to metal pipes. The study highlights the need for better monitoring of both chemical and microbiological quality in drinking water systems that use plastic infrastructure.
Aging of drinking water transmission pipes during long-term operation as a potential source of nano- and microplastics
A study of aging plastic water pipes (PE and PVC) used in drinking water systems found that over time, the pipe surfaces crack and peel, releasing micro- and nanoplastic particles into tap water. Smaller-diameter pipes at the ends of distribution networks showed the most degradation, meaning households furthest from water treatment plants may receive the highest levels of plastic contamination in their drinking water.
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.
Are Micro- or Nanoplastics Leached from Drinking Water Distribution Systems?
This viewpoint paper examines whether plastic drinking water pipes could shed micro- or nanoplastics into tap water, reviewing evidence on pipe materials like PVC and polyethylene. While leaching is possible—especially with aging or damaged pipes—data on the scale of human exposure remains limited.
Microplastics in drinking water distribution systems: Occurrence, environmental behavior, and human health concerns
This review examines how microplastics move through drinking water distribution systems, from treatment plants all the way to household taps. Despite treatment efforts, microplastics persist in the water supply, with plastic pipes and fittings themselves contributing additional contamination. The tiny particles also serve as carriers for harmful bacteria and other pollutants, compounding the health risks of microplastic-contaminated drinking water.
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.
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.
Emerging contaminants migration from pipes used in drinking water distribution systems: a review of the scientific literature
Researchers reviewed the migration of emerging contaminants from water distribution pipes into drinking water, focusing on microplastics, bisphenol A, phthalates, and other chemicals. The study found that pipe materials can release these contaminants into tap water, posing potential human health concerns and highlighting the need for better monitoring of distribution system contributions to drinking water contamination.
Tracing microplastics in rural drinking water in Chongqing, China: Their presence and pathways from source to tap
Researchers traced the journey of microplastics through a rural drinking water system in Chongqing, China, from reservoir to tap. They found that the water treatment plant successfully removed all microplastics from the water, but contamination increased again during pipe transport to homes, resulting in about 1.4 particles per liter at the tap. The study reveals that aging distribution pipes are a significant and often overlooked source of microplastic exposure in drinking water.
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.
Longitudinal and vertical distribution of microplastics in various pipe scales in an operating drinking water distribution system
Researchers collected samples from an operating drinking water distribution system and found microplastics in all tap water and pipe scale samples tested. They discovered that microplastic abundance varied along the length and depth of pipe scales, with older and more corroded pipes harboring higher concentrations. The study reveals that the pipe network itself is a significant source of microplastic contamination in the water that reaches people's taps.
Drinking Water Network as a Potential Pathway for Micro- and Nanoplastics Exposure to Human: A Mini Review
This review examined how drinking water networks -- the pipes and infrastructure connecting treatment plants to homes -- may act as a secondary source of micro- and nanoplastic contamination. Researchers found that plastic piping materials, biofilm buildup, and aging infrastructure all contribute to microplastic levels in tap water. The study highlights a largely overlooked pathway of human exposure and calls for better monitoring of water distribution systems.
Microplastics throughout a tap water supply network
Researchers evaluated microplastic presence throughout a large tap water distribution network, detecting microplastics at multiple points from treatment plant to consumer taps and finding that concentrations increased along the distribution system, suggesting the pipe network itself as a contamination source.
Microplastics hack the water supply system: What it means for water safety and human health?
This review traced microplastics through the entire water supply chain, from source water to the tap, and found that daily human intake through drinking water is rapidly increasing. The study suggests that water treatment infrastructure, including disinfection chemicals and aging pipes, can actually transform microplastics in ways that increase their health risks.
The Behavior of Polymeric Pipes in Drinking Water Distribution System—Comparison with Other Pipe Materials
This review examines how polymeric water pipes release chemical compounds into drinking water, including heavy metals from pipe materials and microbial biofilms, and compares risks across different pipe materials. Leaching from pipe materials poses ongoing risks to drinking water quality in distribution systems.
Presence of Microplastics in Drinking Water and Its Impact on Human Health
This review examined evidence for microplastic presence in drinking water sources and distribution systems, discussing how plastic particles form from the fragmentation of larger plastics and reviewing the emerging evidence for human health impacts from drinking water MP exposure.
Microplastic and nanoplastic concentration in tap water in the US
Researchers analyzed microplastic and nanoplastic concentrations in tap water samples across the United States, detecting particles in the majority of samples and characterizing their size distribution, polymer type, and geographic variation.
The effect of adsorption on the fate of colloidal polystyrene microplastics in drinking water distribution system pipe scales
Researchers detected microplastics in drinking water pipe scale layers and found that adsorption onto pipe scales influences the fate and transport of colloidal microplastics within distribution systems, potentially affecting drinking water quality.
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.
Microplastic Transportation in a Typical Drinking Water Supply: From Raw Water to Household Water
Researchers tracked microplastics through an entire drinking water system, from the source water to household taps, and found that treatment plants actually increased microplastic counts rather than removing them. The treated water contained 12 to 25 particles per liter, with most being tiny fragments under 100 micrometers made of common plastics like PET and PVC. This suggests that current water treatment infrastructure may be shedding microplastics from its own pipes and filters into the water people drink.
Transport, Behavior, and Human Exposure of Microplastics in Rural Drinking Water Supply Chains
Researchers tracked microplastic distribution, transport, and human exposure risk through rural drinking water supply chains in China, finding MPs present throughout the system from source water to tap, with concentration changes at each treatment and distribution stage.