Advances in wastewater treatment have been unable to stop microplastics from slipping through, posing potential health and environmental risks.
Advances in wastewater treatment have been unable to stop microplastics from slipping through, posing potential health and environmental risks.
Advances in wastewater treatment have been unable to stop microplastics from slipping through, posing potential health and environmental risks.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The University of Texas at Arlington has published a new study that finds microplastics are continuing to slip into water and soil despite advances in wastewater treatment.
Microplastics are particles of plastic made up of five millimeters or less that break down at the end of its useful life.
“What our systematic literature review found is that while most wastewater treatment facilities significantly reduce microplastics loads, complete removal remains unattainable with current technologies,” Un-Jung Kim, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at UT Arlington and senior author of the study, said in a statement.
As a result, Kim said many microplastics are being reintroduced into the environment, and are likely bringing other harmful pollutants in wastewater like PFAS and antibiotics.
“These microplastics and organic pollutants would exist in trace level, but we can get exposure through simple actions like drinking water, doing laundry or watering plants, leading to potential long-term serious human health impacts such as cardiovascular disease and cancer,” Kim said.
Researchers of the study are calling for a unified approach in defining what size particle qualifies as a microplastic.
“We found that the effectiveness of treatments varies depending on the technology communities use and how microplastics are measured to calculate the removal rates,” said the study’s lead author, Jenny Kim Nguyen, in a statement. “One way to better address the growing microplastics issue is to develop standardized testing methods that provide a clearer understanding of the issue.”
The researchers behind the study are also calling for greater public awareness, so consumers can make more eco-friendly choices.
“While communities must take steps to improve microplastic detection and screening at the wastewater and water quality monitoring, consumers can already make a difference by choosing to buy clothing and textiles with less plastic whenever feasible, knowing that microfibers are the most common microplastic continually released through wastewater,” Kim said.