Journal of Hazardous Materials,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
480, P. 136129 - 136129
Published: Oct. 10, 2024
A
novel,
yet
simple,
airborne
microplastic
(MP)
sampling
approach
using
global
pollen
monitoring
equipment
was
applied
to
identify,
characterise
and
quantify
outdoor
MPs
for
the
first
time.
Modification
of
Burkard
spore
trap
tape
adhesive
provided
particle
capture
facilitated
downstream
spectroscopy
analysis.
36
polymer
types
were
identified
from
a
total
21
days
traps
at
two
locations
(United
Kingdom
South
Africa).
detected
in
95
%
daily
samples.
Mean
MP
levels
2.0
±
0.9
m
Journal of Hazardous Materials,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown, P. 138015 - 138015
Published: March 1, 2025
Significant
share
of
microplastics
entering
wastewater
treatment
is
accumulated
in
sewage
sludge,
which
commonly
treated
by
anaerobic
digestion.
The
digestate
typically
separated
to
solid
and
liquid
fractions,
the
fraction
often
land-applied.
However,
division
between
these
fractions
poorly
understood.
Thus,
we
investigated
occurrence
(>20
μm)
at
an
digester
subsequent
solid-liquid
separation.
Sewage
sludge
exhibited
7600
±
6800
7200
1100
per
g
dry
weight,
respectively,
indicating
that
digestion
can
decrease
fluctuation
microplastics'
sludge.
microplastic
flow
was
predominantly
directed
fraction,
while
carried
about
1
%
microplastics,
mostly
polymers
with
low
density
(polyethylene
polypropylene).
We
also
factors
affecting
identification
Raman
spectroscopy.
Microplastic
degradation
presence
organic
matter
after
oxidative
sample
preparation,
affected
spectra
different
microplastics.
For
polyethylene
polypropylene,
changes
did
not
interfere
recognizing
their
characteristic
peaks,
allowing
high-certainty
identification.
In
contrast,
polyamide
notably
compromised
as
signal-to-noise
ratio
be
deteriorated
natural
misidentified
polyamide.
Airborne
microplastics
pose
a
significant
risk
to
human
health.
Similarly
the
water-air
transfer
process,
such
as
sea
spray,
aerosols
generated
during
wastewater
treatment
driven
by
aeration
and
mechanical
agitation,
are
an
overlooked
potential
source
of
airborne
microplastics.
This
study
constitutes
first
attempt
investigate
pollution
characteristics
in
treatment,
based
on
laser
direct
infrared
spectroscopy
(LDIR)
pyrolysis-gas
chromatography/mass
spectrometry
(Py-GC/MS).
Microplastics
were
ubiquitously
observed
from
each
unit
plant,
with
abundances
range
0.83-28.03
items·m-3.
A
total
30
different
polymer
types
identified
LDIR,
while
polyvinyl
chloride
polyethylene
terephthalate
most
common
polymers.
Film
fragment
main
shapes,
predominant
size
20-50
μm.
The
aerosolization
degree
is
affected
intensities
hydrodynamic
conditions
maintained
unit,
but
also
varied
depending
their
inherent
characteristics.
These
findings
suggest
that
contributes
novel
insight
into
occurrence
treatment.
