Abstract

Microplastics are increasingly polluting both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Researchers have found that wastewater treatment plants are an entry point for microplastics into surface waters, and we wondered how effective our local wastewater treatment plant is in removing microplastics from wastewater, given that it was not engineered for the removal of microplastics. We sampled effluent water from the new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Orange City, Iowa, to determine the amount of microplastics released from the plant into Orange City Slough. We found concentrations of 498 pieces of microplastic/cubic meter (0.498/L) in the effluent water, which is similar to published values for secondary wastewater treatment plants. Given that microplastics have been found in human blood and have been shown to cause various health effects in humans and other animals, we propose that WWTPs be engineered to prevent the release of microplastics into surface waters.

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Apr 4th, 3:30 PM Apr 4th, 5:30 PM

Microplastic Concentrations in Orange City Wastewater

Microplastics are increasingly polluting both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Researchers have found that wastewater treatment plants are an entry point for microplastics into surface waters, and we wondered how effective our local wastewater treatment plant is in removing microplastics from wastewater, given that it was not engineered for the removal of microplastics. We sampled effluent water from the new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Orange City, Iowa, to determine the amount of microplastics released from the plant into Orange City Slough. We found concentrations of 498 pieces of microplastic/cubic meter (0.498/L) in the effluent water, which is similar to published values for secondary wastewater treatment plants. Given that microplastics have been found in human blood and have been shown to cause various health effects in humans and other animals, we propose that WWTPs be engineered to prevent the release of microplastics into surface waters.

 

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