Talukdar, Avishek; Kundu, Pritha; Bhattacharya, Sayan; Dutta, Nalok; (2024) Microplastic contamination in wastewater: Sources, distribution, detection and remediation through physical and chemical-biological methods. Science of the Total Environment , 916 , Article 170254. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170254.

Text Dutta_Microplastic contamination in wastewater_AAM.pdf Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 26 January 2025. Download (2MB)

Abstract

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 mm. that have been widely detected in the environment, including in wastewater. They originate from various sources including breakdown of larger plastic debris, release of plastic fibres from textiles, and microbeads commonly used in personal care products. In wastewater, microplastics can pass through the treatment process and enter the environment, causing harm to biodiversity by potentially entering the food chain. Additionally, microplastics can act as a vector for harmful pollutants, increasing their transport and distribution in the environment. To address this issue, there is a growing need for effective wastewater treatment methods that can effectively remove microplastics. Currently, several physical and chemical methods are available, including filtration, sedimentation, and chemical degradation. However, these methods are costly, low efficiency and generate secondary pollutants. Furthermore, lack of standardization in the measurement and reporting of microplastics in wastewater, makes it difficult to accurately assess microplastic impact on the environment. In order to effectively manage these issues, further research and development of effective and efficient methods for removing microplastics from wastewater, as well as standardization in measurement and reporting, are necessary to effectively manage these detrimental contaminants.

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