1
|
Xu J, Zuo R, Wu G, Liu J, Liu J, Huang C, Wang Z. Global distribution, drivers, and potential hazards of microplastics in groundwater: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 954:176194. [PMID: 39270874 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 08/18/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
Since microplastics (MPs) were first detected in groundwater, an increasing number of studies have focused on groundwater pollution by MPs. However, knowledge of the global properties of groundwater MPs: distribution, concentration, composition, and morphology remains limited, while potential factors regulating their transport and distribution in groundwater, especially the hydrogeological background and climate warming conditions, have been omitted from most analyses. Furthermore, previous field investigations did not assess the risks posed by groundwater MPs to the environment and to human health, a necessary preliminary to remediation. In this work, to promote future MP pollution studies and remediation policies, we assimilated and synthesized the current knowledge on this topic. We reviewed current data on global groundwater pollution by MPs, analyzed the driving factors of their transport and distribution, and summarized the ecological and health hazards posed by MPs, before discussing current knowledge limits and suggesting perspectives for future work.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Xu
- College of Water Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Rui Zuo
- College of Water Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Guanlan Wu
- College of Water Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Jingchao Liu
- College of Water Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jiawei Liu
- College of Water Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Chenxi Huang
- College of Water Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Zhiwen Wang
- College of Water Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100875, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mumberg T, Ahrens L, Wanner P. Managed aquifer recharge as a potential pathway of contaminants of emerging concern into groundwater systems - A systematic review. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 364:143030. [PMID: 39121959 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Groundwater is an often-overlooked resource, while its declining quantity and quality is of global concern. To protect and ensure stable quantity and quality of groundwater systems used as drinking water supplies, a common method is to artificially recharge these groundwater supplies with surface water, a process called managed aquifer recharge (MAR), that has been used globally for decades. However, surface waters used for MAR often contain elevated concentrations of anthropogenic chemicals of emerging concern (CECs), such as plastics, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). When infiltrating this surface water, MAR can thus act as a shortcut for CECs into groundwater systems and eventually drinking water supplies. Especially PFAS are an example of very persistent contaminants showing atypical transport patterns during MAR and thus posing a risk for ground- and drinking water contamination. This systematic review addresses the transport process of CECs through MAR systems by looking at (1) common CEC concentrations in surface waters, (2) factors affecting CEC transport and possible retention during MAR, such as sorption and other physio-chemical mechanisms of CECs, biological and chemical decomposition, or hydrogeological properties of the MAR system, and (3) key contaminants leaching through the MAR systems as well as possible treatment options to improve the retention of CECs during MAR. Since we are facing increasing needs for high quality drinking water, lower CEC drinking water guidelines as well as an increasing number of identified CECs in surface waters, we conclude with a series of recommendations and future research directions to address these issues. Those include the need for regular monitoring programs specifically addressing CECs and especially not yet regulated, (very) persistent and (very) mobile contaminants, such as PFAS, as well as redesigned MAR systems to ensure stable ground- and drinking water quantity and quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tabea Mumberg
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 7, Gothenburg, 413 90, Sweden.
| | - Lutz Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7050, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Philipp Wanner
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 7, Gothenburg, 413 90, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mao Y, Hu Z, Li H, Zheng H, Yang S, Yu W, Tang B, Yang H, He R, Guo W, Ye K, Yang A, Zhang S. Recent advances in microplastic removal from drinking water by coagulation: Removal mechanisms and influencing factors. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123863. [PMID: 38565391 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants that are widely detected in drinking water and pose a potential risk to humans. Therefore, the MP removal from drinking water is a critical challenge. Recent studies have shown that MPs can be removed by coagulation. However, the coagulation removal of MPs from drinking water remains inadequately understood. Herein, the efficiency, mechanisms, and influencing factors of coagulation for removing MPs from drinking water are critically reviewed. First, the efficiency of MP removal by coagulation in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) and laboratories was comprehensively summarized, which indicated that coagulation plays an important role in MP removal from drinking water. The difference in removal effectiveness between the DWTPs and laboratory was mainly due to variations in treatment conditions and limitations of the detection techniques. Several dominant coagulation mechanisms for removing MPs and their research methods are thoroughly discussed. Charge neutralization is more relevant for small-sized MPs, whereas large-sized MPs are more dependent on adsorption bridging and sweeping. Furthermore, the factors influencing the efficiency of MP removal were jointly analyzed using meta-analysis and a random forest model. The meta-analysis was used to quantify the individual effects of each factor on coagulation removal efficiency by performing subgroup analysis. The random forest model quantified the relative importance of the influencing factors on removal efficiency, the results of which were ordered as follows: MPs shape > Coagulant type > Coagulant dosage > MPs concentration > MPs size > MPs type > pH. Finally, knowledge gaps and potential future directions are proposed. This review assists in the understanding of the coagulation removal of MPs, and provides novel insight into the challenges posed by MPs in drinking water.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Mao
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China; Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Zuoyuan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Hong Li
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Huaili Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Shengfa Yang
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Weiwei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Bingran Tang
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Hao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Ruixu He
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Wenshu Guo
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Kailai Ye
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Aoguang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Shixin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yao J, Li J, Qi J, Wan M, Tang L, Han H, Tian K, Liu S. Distribution patterns and environmental risk assessments of microplastics in the lake waters and sediments from eight typical wetland parks in Changsha city, China. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1365906. [PMID: 38784569 PMCID: PMC11112001 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1365906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The quality of water in urban parks is closely related to people's daily lives, but the pollution caused by microplastics in park water and sediments has not been comprehensively studied. Therefore, eight typical parks in the urban area of Changsha, China, were selected, and Raman spectroscopy was used to explore the spatial distributions and compositions of the microplastics in the water and sediments, analyze their influencing factors, and evaluate their environmental risks. The results showed that the abundances of surface water microplastics in all parks ranged from 150 to 525 n L-1, and the abundances of sediment microplastics ranged from 120 to 585 n kg-1. The microplastics in the surface water included polyethylene terephthalate (PET), chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), and fluororubber (FLU), while those in the sediments included polyvinyl chloride (PVC), wp-acrylate copolymer (ACR), and CPE. Regression analyses revealed significant positive correlations between human activities and the abundances of microplastics in the parks. Among them, the correlations of population, industrial discharge and domestic wastewater discharge with the abundance of microplastics in park water were the strongest. However, the correlations of car flow and tourists with the abundance of microplastics in park water were the weakest. Based on the potential ecological risk indices (PERI) classification assessment method, the levels of microplastics in the waters and sediments of the eight parks were all within the II-level risk zone (53-8,549), among which the risk indices for Meixi Lake and Yudai Lake were within the IV risk zone (1,365-8,549), which may have been caused by the high population density near the park. This study provides new insights into the characteristics of microplastics in urban park water and sediment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junyi Yao
- The Department of Environmental Design, School of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiang Li
- The Department of Environmental Design, School of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jialing Qi
- The Department of Environmental Design, School of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mengrui Wan
- The Department of Environmental Design, School of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liling Tang
- The Department of Environmental Design, School of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hui Han
- Henan Field Observation and Research Station of Headwork Wetland Ecosystem of the Central Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project, School of Life Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, Henan, China
| | - Kai Tian
- Henan Field Observation and Research Station of Headwork Wetland Ecosystem of the Central Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project, School of Life Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, Henan, China
| | - Shaobo Liu
- The Department of Environmental Design, School of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhao K, Li C, Li F. Research progress on the origin, fate, impacts and harm of microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment plants. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9719. [PMID: 38678134 PMCID: PMC11055955 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60458-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous studies reported microplastics (MPs), antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). There is still a lack of research progress on the origin, fate, impact and hazards of MPs and ARGs in WWTPs. This paper fills a gap in this regard. In our search, we used "microplastics", "antibiotic resistance genes", and "wastewater treatment plant" as topic terms in Web of Science, checking the returned results for relevance by examining paper titles and abstracts. This study mainly explores the following points: (1) the origins and fate of MPs, antibiotics and ARGs in WWTPs; (2) the mechanisms of action of MPs, antibiotics and ARGs in sludge biochemical pools; (3) the impacts of MPs in WWTPs and the spread of ARGs; (4) and the harm inflicted by MPs and ARGs on the environment and human body. Contaminants in sewage sludge such as MPs, ARGs, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria enter the soil and water. Contaminants can travel through the food chain and thus reach humans, leading to increased illness, hospitalization, and even mortality. This study will enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of action among MPs, antibiotics, ARGs, and the harm they inflict on the human body.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Songliao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University, 5088 Xincheng Street, Changchun, 130118, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengzhi Li
- Key Laboratory of Songliao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University, 5088 Xincheng Street, Changchun, 130118, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria at Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Fengxiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Songliao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University, 5088 Xincheng Street, Changchun, 130118, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria at Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Haleem N, Kumar P, Zhang C, Jamal Y, Hua G, Yao B, Yang X. Microplastics and associated chemicals in drinking water: A review of their occurrence and human health implications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169594. [PMID: 38154642 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have entered drinking water (DW) via various pathways, raising concerns about their potential health impacts. This study provides a comprehensive review of MP-associated chemicals, such as oligomers, plasticizers, stabilizers, and ultraviolet (UV) filters that can be leached out during DW treatment and distribution. The leaching of these chemicals is influenced by various environmental and operating factors, with three major ones identified: MP concentration and polymer type, pH, and contact time. The leaching process is substantially enhanced during the disinfection step of DW treatment, due to ultraviolet light and/or disinfectant-triggered reactions. The study also reviewed human exposure to MPs and associated chemicals in DW, as well as their health impacts on the human nervous, digestive, reproductive, and hepatic systems, especially the neuroendocrine toxicity of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. An overview of MPs in DW, including tap water and bottled water, was also presented to enable a background understanding of MPs-associated chemicals. In short, certain chemicals leached from MPs in DW can have significant implications for human health and demand further research on their long-term health impacts, mitigation strategies, and interactions with other pollutants such as disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). This study is anticipated to facilitate the research and management of MPs in DW and beverages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noor Haleem
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA; Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Pradeep Kumar
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Yousuf Jamal
- Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| | - Guanghui Hua
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Bin Yao
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Xufei Yang
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.
| |
Collapse
|