Microplastic pollution from wastewater treatment plants

What is it about?

Microplastics (MPs) are tiny plastic pieces smaller 5mm that have raised concerns to aquatic organisms and humans due to their ubiquitous presence. Studies have identified effluents from Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) as an important source of MPs in the aquatic environment. Although majority of the WWTPs can remove up to 90% of MPs from wastewater, but given the huge volumes of effluent discharge into natural aquatic bodies, even small concentrations of MPs in the effluent would be significant. In addition to plastic buildup in the aquatic environment but can also contribute in the spreading of toxic pollutants to the environment. Therefore, in this review we apply the information of MPs from literature and comprehensively review the occurrence, fate, interactions with other pollutants in wastewater, MPs removal in different stages of WWTPs, impacts on environment and aquatic organisms, different methods for detection and analysis of microplastics from WWTPs.

Featured Image

Photo by Nick Russill on Unsplash

Photo by Nick Russill on Unsplash

Why is it important?

• Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are an important point source of MPs into the aquatic environment. • Existing WWTPs are not designed to specifically remove the MPs; however, more than 90% of MPs are removal has been reported. • MPs in wastewater can interact with chemical and biological toxicities and can spread these toxicities adsorbed on its surface. • The sampling and analytical methodologies vary greatly with studies, and therefore, there is an immediate need for standardization of protocols for sampling and analysis.