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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Tracking microplastics in a drinking water supply system proximity to industrial facilities: Occurrence, source identification, and risk assessment
ClearMicroplastic removal across ten drinking water treatment facilities and distribution systems
Researchers characterized microplastic removal across ten drinking water treatment facilities and found that conventional municipal treatment achieved greater than 97.5% removal, primarily through granular media filtration or ultrafiltration. Untreated source waters contained between approximately 1,200 and 7,200 microplastic particles per liter, with polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyamide being the most common types. The findings provide valuable data on microplastic exposure through drinking water and the effectiveness of existing treatment processes.
Microplastic removal efficiency in a megacity water treatment plant and dynamics in the distribution system
This study tracked microplastics through a megacity drinking water treatment plant and urban distribution network, finding significant MP removal through treatment but detecting residual contamination in distributed water, raising public health concerns in rapidly growing urban areas.
Assessment of microplastic contamination in drinking water from an italian plant: An analytical study
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination at multiple treatment stages in a drinking water plant in northern Italy that processes turbid river water supplemented with groundwater, quantifying particles through sedimentation, flocculation, sand filtration, activated carbon adsorption, and disinfection stages.
Fate of microplastics in the drinking water production
Researchers tracked the fate of microplastics through drinking water treatment processes, finding that conventional treatment steps like coagulation, sedimentation, and filtration removed the majority of microplastics but did not eliminate them entirely.
Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in drinking water treatment plants, distribution systems, water from refill kiosks, tap waters and bottled waters
This review summarizes research on microplastic contamination across the entire drinking water supply chain, from treatment plants to tap water and bottled water. Microplastics were found at every stage, with concentrations varying widely depending on location and treatment methods. The findings highlight that people are regularly consuming microplastics through their drinking water, though more standardized research is needed to fully understand the health implications.
Microplastic occurrence after conventional and nanofiltration processes at drinking water treatment plants: Preliminary results
Researchers detected microplastics in source river water and finished drinking water at three treatment plants in the Paris region, finding that standard treatment steps including coagulation-flocculation and sand filtration reduced but did not eliminate MPs. Nanofiltration achieved higher removal rates, suggesting advanced filtration is needed for near-complete MP removal from drinking water.
Presence of microplastics in drinking water from freshwater sources: the investigation in Changsha, China
Researchers measured microplastic abundance at multiple stages of a drinking water supply chain in Changsha, China — from source freshwater through treatment to household taps — finding that water treatment reduced MP concentrations by more than 85% but tap water still contained an average of 344 particles per liter.
Occurrence and removal of microplastics by advanced and conventional drinking water treatment facilities
Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence and removal efficiency at drinking water treatment plants using both conventional and advanced treatment processes. Advanced treatment steps such as ultrafiltration and activated carbon significantly improved microplastic removal compared to conventional coagulation and filtration alone.
Tracking Microplastics Contamination in Drinking Water Supply Chain in Haikou, China: From Source to Household Taps
Researchers tracked microplastic contamination throughout the entire drinking water supply chain in Haikou, China, from source water to household taps. They found that while water treatment reduced some microplastic content, treated water actually showed higher concentrations than raw water, suggesting contamination during the treatment process itself. The study provides a health risk assessment indicating that microplastic exposure through tap water warrants continued monitoring.
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.
Microplastic Contamination in Drinking Water Treatment Systems: A Case Study of Bedadung River Jember
Researchers traced microplastic contamination through the Bedadung River water treatment chain in Indonesia, from intake to consumer taps, at seven sampling points. MPs were present throughout the system, with concentrations declining through treatment stages but not reaching zero, indicating residual MP exposure in treated drinking water.
Removal of microplastics and nanoplastics in water treatment processes: A systematic literature review
Researchers systematically reviewed 103 studies across 26 water treatment plants in 12 countries to assess how well various technologies remove microplastics and nanoplastics from drinking water, finding that while coagulation, filtration, and advanced treatments help, significant gaps remain. The review identifies that no single process achieves complete removal, leaving microplastics as a persistent contaminant in treated water supplies.
Investigating microplastics at two drinking water treatment plants within a river catchment
Researchers tracked microplastics through each treatment stage at two Czech drinking water treatment plants on the same river, finding that the downstream plant received far higher raw water concentrations (1,296 vs. 23 particles/L) and that current treatment reduced but did not eliminate microplastics from finished drinking water.
Microplastics in Drinking Water: A Review of Sources, Removal, Detection, Occurrence, and Potential Risks
This review examines how microplastics enter drinking water supply systems, evaluates methods for their detection and removal, and summarizes what is known about their occurrence in treated water. Researchers found that while conventional water treatment removes a significant portion of microplastics, no current method eliminates them completely. The study highlights the need for improved monitoring standards and further research into the long-term health effects of ingesting microplastics through drinking water.
Removal of microplastics via drinking water treatment: Current knowledge and future directions
This review examines what is currently known about microplastics in drinking water systems and how well existing water treatment processes remove them. Researchers found that while conventional treatment steps like coagulation and filtration do reduce microplastic levels, significant amounts can still persist through to tap water. The study calls for more research into optimizing treatment processes and developing monitoring strategies specifically targeting microplastic contamination in drinking water.
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.
Occurrence of microplastics in raw and treated drinking water
Researchers analyzed raw and treated water from three water treatment plants and found microplastics in all samples, though treatment reduced particle counts by roughly 70 to 80 percent. The vast majority of detected particles were smaller than 10 micrometers, a size range often missed by other studies. The findings highlight that while water treatment removes most microplastics, very small particles can still pass through conventional filtration systems.
Mass Concentration and Removal Characteristics of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in a Drinking Water Treatment Plant
Researchers measured both microplastics and nanoplastics by mass throughout an entire drinking water treatment plant, finding that raw water contained about 9.6 micrograms per liter of plastic polymers. Treatment reduced this by roughly 92%, but nanoplastics and very small microplastics were harder to remove than larger particles. The study highlights the importance of measuring plastic contamination by mass, not just by particle count, for a more accurate picture of exposure through drinking water.
Microplastics in drinking water. Efficiency of treatment and distribution of a drinking water cycle
Researchers tracked microplastics through an entire drinking water cycle — from reservoir to treatment plant to distribution network — and found that conventional treatment removed about 92% of microplastics, but particle counts rose again in storage tanks and pipes, likely from material wear. The study highlights that even effective treatment plants can be undermined by the distribution infrastructure downstream.
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.
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.
Enrichment of microplastics from drinking water treatment sludge
Researchers investigated the enrichment and concentration of microplastics in drinking water treatment sludge, building on prior evidence that treatment processes remove up to 93% of microplastics from source water and thereby accumulate them in sludge byproducts. The study developed and evaluated methods for isolating and characterizing microplastics from this underexplored but potentially significant secondary pollution reservoir.
Microplastics from headwaters to tap water: occurrence and removal in a drinking water treatment plant in Barcelona Metropolitan area (Catalonia, NE Spain)
Researchers tracked microplastics through an entire drinking water treatment plant in Barcelona, from river source to tap. The study found microplastic concentrations of about 1 particle per liter in the raw intake water, with sand filtration removing roughly 78% of particles and the overall treatment process achieving 93% removal. Advanced treatments like ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis proved more effective at removing microplastics than conventional ozonation and carbon filtration.
Analysis of the Efficiency of Drinking Water Treatment Systems in the Removal of Microplastics
Researchers analysed the efficiency of drinking water treatment systems in removing microplastics — primarily PET, PP, PS, and PVC fibres and fragments — from source water, reviewing how physical, chemical, and biological treatment stages contribute to reduction. The review also evaluates associated health risks including inflammation, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, and genetic damage linked to microplastic exposure via drinking water.