Microplastics in the urban water cycle: A critical analysis of issues and of possible (needed?) solutions

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 954; p. 176580
• Main Author: Capodaglio, Andrea G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.12.2024
• Subjects: Drinking water; environment; Environmental effects; hydrologic cycle; laws and regulations; Microplastics; risk; Treatment processes; Urban water cycle; Waste water; wastewater; Urban water cycle; Drinking water; Microplastics; Treatment processes; Environmental effects; Waste water
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176580

Microplastic (MP) contamination is a problem that affects even remote, scarcely populated regions of the world. This topic has recently been the subject of many published studies, however, these often adopt hyperbolic statements and do not actually provide definitive evidence that MPs are a cause of environmental risk in actual environmental conditions. New technologies to remove MPs from supply and waste water are being investigated, but they are able to intercept a minimal fraction of the MPs circulating in all environmental media. Recently, several pieces of legislation were introduced to reduce plastic production, use, and disposal, but it is not clear how such measures could achieve a significant environmental MP reduction. This paper addresses the MP issue within the urban water cycle, examining recent current literature on MP presence in drinking and waste water, and overviewing available recent treatment technologies for their removal. The ensuing discussion attempts to holistically assess the actual relevance of the issue in the light of the current scientific evidence. [Display omitted] •Micropastics’ presence is pervasive in all environmental media, at variable but generally low concentrations•Current literature tends to overemphasize potential adverse environmental effects of microplastics even at low counts•Microplastics are generally well removed by conventional water and wastewater treatment processes•Advanced removal of microplastics from water/wastewater was not so far demonstrated as a generalized need•Detection of microplastics in water is a critical issue, and their effects on human targets should be demonstrated