Journal
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Volume 420, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126481
Keywords
Microplast i c s; Wastewater treatment plants; Environmental monitor i n g; Freshwater ecosystems; Mediterranean region
Categories
Funding
- Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness [PCIN-2017-016]
- Norwegian Research Council [271825/E50]
- Ramon y Cajal grant by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [RYC2019-028132-I]
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Microplastics (MPs) were found to be mainly sourced from wastewater in the Mediterranean river catchment, with pollution levels increasing significantly downstream of urban and industrial areas. Seasonality strongly influenced MP concentrations, with higher water concentrations during high flow periods and lower sediment concentrations during low flow periods.
Microplastics (MPs) are considered to be ubiquitous contaminants in freshwater ecosystems, yet their sources and pathways at the river catchment scale need to be better determined. This study assessed MP (55-5000 mu m) pollution in a Mediterranean river catchment (central Spain) and aimed to identify the importance of wastewater as an environmental pathway. We sampled treated and untreated wastewaters, and raw and digested sludge from five WWTPs during two seasons. River water and sediments were sampled at three locations with different anthropogenic influences during three seasons. On average, 93% (47-99%) of MPs were retained by WWTPs. Concentrations in river water and sediment ranged between 1 and 227 MPs/m3 and 0-2630 MPs/kg dw, respectively. Concentrations strongly depended upon land-use, with pollution levels increasing significantly downstream of urban and industrial areas. Seasonality influenced the observed MP concentrations strongly. During high flow periods, higher water but lower sediment concentrations were observed compared to low flow periods. We estimate that 1 x 1010 MPs are discharged into the catchment via treated and untreated wastewater annually, which constitutes up to 50% of the total MP catchment discharge. Thus, we conclude that the wastewater system represents a major environmental pathway for MPs into Mediterranean rivers with low dilution capacity.
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