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Research from The University of Texas at Arlington highlights that despite improvements in wastewater treatment technologies, microplastics continue to evade elimination, potentially leading to health and environmental issues.
Plastics have become a ubiquitous part of our economy due to their low production costs and favorable properties, making them prevalent in items like food containers, clothing, and personal care products. However, when these plastic items are discarded, they degrade into smaller fragments known as microplastics—particles measuring five millimeters or smaller, similar in size to a pencil eraser. These tiny particles ultimately find their way into our ecosystems, contaminating soils and waterways.
“Our comprehensive review of existing literature indicates that while most wastewater treatment facilities do a commendable job of reducing microplastic concentrations, achieving complete removal with existing technologies remains a challenge,” explained Un-Jung Kim, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at UT Arlington and the lead investigator of the study published in Science of the Total Environment.
Dr. Kim further noted, “This means a substantial number of microplastics re-enter the environment, where they can carry with them other dangerous pollutants found in wastewater, such as Bisphenols, PFAS, and antibiotics. Although these toxins may be present in trace amounts, we can still be exposed through everyday activities like drinking water, doing laundry, or watering plants, which may lead to long-term health risks including cardiovascular illnesses and cancer.”
One significant hurdle in addressing the microplastics problem is the absence of uniform testing methodologies. The researchers advocate for a cohesive strategy to determine the specific particle size that should be classified as a microplastic.
“We observed that the efficacy of wastewater treatments varies based on the technology applied in different communities, as well as how microplastics are quantified to assess their removal,” noted Jenny Kim Nguyen, the study’s principal author. “To effectively tackle the increasing microplastics challenge, developing standardized testing methods is crucial for gaining a clearer insight into the scope of the problem.”
Nguyen initiated this research while an undergraduate in Kim’s Environmental Chemistry Lab and is now advancing her studies toward a master’s degree in earth and environmental sciences at UTA, focusing on creating standardized procedures for investigating microplastics in both air and water.
“This research enhances our comprehension of the microplastics crisis, which is essential for addressing its long-lasting health implications and reinforcing our mitigation strategies,” stated Karthikraj Rajendiran, a co-author of the study and an assistant professor at UTA’s Bone Muscle Research Center within the College of Nursing and Health Innovations.
The research team stresses the importance of increasing public awareness regarding microplastics, which can empower consumers to make more environmentally-conscious purchasing decisions.
“While it is vital for communities to enhance microplastic detection and monitoring in wastewater and water quality, individuals can also contribute by opting for clothing and textiles with minimal plastic content whenever possible, given that microfibers are the predominant type of microplastics consistently released through wastewater,” Kim emphasized.
Funding for this initiative was secured through UTA’s Research Enhancement Program, which provides support to multidisciplinary researchers embarking on new projects.
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