Microplastics in Sewage Sludge: Effects of Treatment.
Environ Sci Technol
; 51(2): 810-818, 2017 01 17.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27936648
ABSTRACT
Waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) are receptors for the cumulative loading of microplastics (MPs) derived from industry, landfill, domestic wastewater and stormwater. The partitioning of MPs through the settlement processes of wastewater treatment results in the majority becoming entrained in the sewage sludge. This study characterized MPs in sludge samples from seven WWTPs in Ireland which use anaerobic digestion (AD), thermal drying (TD), or lime stabilization (LS) treatment processes. Abundances ranged from 4196 to 15â¯385 particles kg-1 (dry weight). Results of a general linear mixed model (GLMM) showed significantly higher abundances of MPs in smaller size classes in the LS samples, suggesting that the treatment process of LS shears MP particles. In contrast, lower abundances of MPs found in the AD samples suggests that this process may reduce MP abundances. Surface morphologies examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed characteristics of melting and blistering of TD MPs and shredding and flaking of LS MPs. This study highlights the potential for sewage sludge treatment processes to affect the risk of MP pollution prior to land spreading and may have implications for legislation governing the application of biosolids to agricultural land.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Esgotos
/
Águas Residuárias
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
País como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2017
Tipo de documento:
Article