articleEnvironmental Science & TechnologyDec 12, 2016GREEN OA

Microplastics in Sewage Sludge: Effects of Treatment

AMAnne Marie MahonBOBethesda O’ConnellMGMark G. HealyIOIan O’ConnorROR. Officer

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology · Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway

PubMed
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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 15 385 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…

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Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Microplastics
  • Environmental science
  • Sewage
  • Sewage sludge
  • Sewage treatment
  • Waste management
  • Environmental chemistry
  • Environmental engineering
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Clean water and sanitation
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