Abstract
The elimination of microplastic particles (MPP) and microplastic fibers (MPF) was investigated in the final treatment stage (sand filtration) in two municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and the final treatment stage (sand filtration) at a process WWTP of a manufacturer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). At each sampling site, three samples on three different days were taken (before/after sand filtration). The samples were filtered through a 10 μm stainless steel cartridge filter utilizing a stainless steel centrifugal pump. Microplastics (MP) were separated from the wastewater matrix by oxidative treatment and density separation and analyzed by Raman microspectroscopy. Due to precautionary measures, procedural blanks were very low with a mean number of 4.3 ± 2.7 MPP and 0.88 ± 0.56 MPF within eight blank samples. The municipal WWTPs were able to eliminate 99.2% ± 0.29% and 99.4% ± 0.15% of MP in the sand filtration stage. The sand filtration of a PVC manufacturer eliminated 99.2%–99.9%.
Highlights
The effects of microplastics (MP) on the environment and organisms have not yet been sufficiently examined
The raw numbers of the identified microplastic particles (MPP) and microplastic fibers (MPF) are listed in Appendix A for the sand filter influent (Table A2) and the sand filter effluent (Table A3) for each grab sample and sampling site
The rate of removal of MP in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) with a downstream filtration stage is very high, which means that less MP are emitted into the rivers
Summary
The effects of microplastics (MP) on the environment and organisms have not yet been sufficiently examined. It has been proven that MP can adsorb (harmful) organic substances due to their surface and material properties [1]. These substances can accumulate in the fatty tissue of organisms and may cause harm to the organism [2]. Additives in plastics can have toxic effects on organisms [3]. Showed that MP can be ingested by tadpoles under laboratory conditions and cause mutagenic effects. MP can act as a transport medium for substances and microorganisms and thereby influence ecosystems. MP have been detected in mussels and oysters bred for human consumption [6], in seabirds [7], in wild fish [8], and even in human feces [9]
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