Plastics in our waste streams are breaking down into tiny particles, causing potentially catastrophic consequences for human health and our aquatic systems, finds research from the University of Surrey and Deakin’s Institute for Frontier Materials in a new study published by Journal of Water Research.
Led by Dr Judy Lee and Marie Enfrin from the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Surrey and Dr Ludovic Dumée at Deakin’s Institute for Frontier Materials, the project investigated nano and microplastics in water and wastewater treatment processes. The team found that tiny pieces of plastic break down further during treatment processes, reducing the performance of treatment plants and impacting on water quality.
There has been substantial study of microplastics pollution, but their interaction with water and wastewater treatment processes had not been fully understood until now.
Approximately 300 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year and up to 13 million tons of that is released into rivers and oceans, contributing to approximately 250 million tons of plastic by 2025. Since plastic materials are not generally degradable through weathering or ageing, this accumulation of plastic pollution in the aquatic environment creates a major concern.
The research highlights the current difficulty in detecting the presence of nano and microplastics in treatment systems. In order to ensure water quality meets the required safety standards and to reduce threats to our ecosystems, new detection strategies are needed with the aim of limiting the number of nano and microplastics in water and wastewater treatment systems.
Dr Lee, Project Lead and Senior Lecturer at the University of Surrey, said: “The presence of nano and microplastics in water has become a major environmental challenge. Due to their small size, nano and microplastics can easily be ingested by living organisms and travel along water and wastewater treatment processes. In large quantities they impact the performance of water treatment processes by clogging up filtration units and increasing wear and tear on materials used in the design of water treatment units.”
Read the full report here: Nano/microplastics in water and wastewater treatment processes – Origin, impact and potential solutions. Marie Enfrin, Ludovic F. Dumée, Judy Lee.
Learn more: Major environmental challenge as microplastics are harming our drinking water
The Latest on: Microplastics
[google_news title=”” keyword=”microplastics” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Microplastics
- The presence of microplastics in archaeology sites could prompt a major industry rethinkon April 27, 2024 at 3:01 am
A team of scientists discovered microplastics at an archaeology site in York, which potentially have major consequences.
- Toxic chemicals from microplastics can be absorbed by the skin, study findson April 26, 2024 at 8:20 am
A new study used 3D human skin-equivalent models to examine how flame retardant additives in microplastics are absorbed by the skin. The findings show that several flame-retardant additives passed ...
- What are microplastics doing to human health? Scientists work to connect the dotson April 26, 2024 at 1:01 am
People unknowingly ingest microplastics from what we eat, drink and breathe. Some scientists fear exposure to microplastics could increase vulnerability to heart disease, cancer and other illnesses.
- Researchers uncover new oceanic locations where microplastics are accumulating: 'Global initiatives are necessary to conserve these rich ecosystems'on April 25, 2024 at 6:01 pm
"As coral reefs are prone to microplastic accumulation and can become pollution hotspots, global initiatives are necessary to conserve these rich ecosystems and prevent rapidly increasing plastic ...
- Where to Trade in Items for Microplastics in Another Crab's Treasureon April 25, 2024 at 9:00 am
You'll collect all sorts of junk in Another Crab's Treasure --here's what to do with it to earn some Microplastics.
- 5 Ways To Reduce Your Microplastics Exposure In The ‘Plasticene’ Eraon April 25, 2024 at 4:30 am
Emerging research shows microplastics—which are everywhere—are linked to health problems. Here are five ways to reduce your microplastics exposure.
- Earth Week underway as UN committee debates plastics and microplastics. Here's why.on April 23, 2024 at 10:29 am
Plastic has become ubiquitous in our environment. It's now considered "a crisis of global proportion," according to as United Nations' committee.
- Experts tell lawmakers about harmful effects of microplasticson April 23, 2024 at 3:37 am
One expert cited a link between the creation of plastic and dramatically declining fertility rates and sperm counts. The post Experts tell lawmakers about harmful effects of microplastics appeared ...
- Researchers working to keep microplastics from laundry out of water supplyon April 22, 2024 at 4:38 pm
Doing the laundry can also lead to microplastics polluting the water supply and oceans, as the particles are shed from certain kinds of fabrics. A group of researchers are working to create a device ...
- Groundbreaking hydrogel can remove microplastics from wateron April 20, 2024 at 6:01 am
A newly developed hydrogel is going to create new ways for us to remove harmful microplastics from drinking water.
via Bing News