Average daily flow of microplastics through a tertiary wastewater treatment plant over a ten-month period

Blair, R. M., Waldron, S. and Gauchotte-Lindsay, C. (2019) Average daily flow of microplastics through a tertiary wastewater treatment plant over a ten-month period. Water Research, 163, 114909. (doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.114909)

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Abstract

Microplastics (MPs, <5 mm in size) are classified as emerging contaminants but treatment processes are not designed to remove these small particles. Wastewater treatment systems have been proposed as pathways for MPs pollution to receiving waters but quantitative and qualitative data on MP occurrence and transport remains limited, hindering risk assessment and regulation. Here, for the first time, the stepwise abundance and loading of MPs (60–2800 μm) in a tertiary wastewater treatment plant in the UK was assessed by sampling from May 2017 to February 2018. Microplastics were found in all sampling campaigns, with an average inflow of 8.1 × 108 (95% CI, 3.8 × 108 to 1.2 × 109) items day−1. Their prevalence decreased from influent to final effluent. Overall abundances decreased on average by 6%, 68%, 92%, and 96% after the pre-treatment, primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment stages respectively, although considerable variability occurred throughout the year. Sufficient particles remained in the treated effluent to generate an average discharge of 2.2 × 107 (95% CI, 1.2 × 107 to 3.2 × 107]) particles day−1 to the recipient river. Secondary MPs were predominant, while primary MP abundances were minimal. Fibres comprised 67% of all items, followed by films (18%) and fragments (15%). Chemical characterisation confirmed the presence of different types of polymers, with polypropylene fibres and fragments most abundant (23%). This research informs understanding of how wastewater effluent may channel MPs to the natural environment and their composition, and helps understand control points for optimising advanced treatment processes.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This project is funded by the Scottish Government’s Hydronation Scholars Programme and is in conjunction with Scottish Water and SEPA.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Waldron, Professor Susan and Gauchotte-Lindsay, Professor Caroline and Blair Espinoza, Maricela
Authors: Blair, R. M., Waldron, S., and Gauchotte-Lindsay, C.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment
College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Journal Name:Water Research
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0043-1354
ISSN (Online):1879-2448
Published Online:23 July 2019
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd.
First Published:First published in Water Research 163:114909
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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