Municipal sewage sludge as a source of microplastics in the environment

Charles Rolsky; Varun Kelkar; Erin Driver; Rolf U. Halden

doi:10.1016/j.coesh.2019.12.001

Municipal sewage sludge as a source of microplastics in the environment

Charles Rolsky, Varun Kelkar, Erin Driver, Rolf U. Halden

Engineering, Ira A. Fulton Schools of (IAFSE)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

126 Scopus citations

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plants are known to contribute to microplastic (MP) pollution in freshwater and terrestrial environments, but studies on MP abundance in sludge are scarce. This study aimed to (i) conduct a literature review to assess the number and extent of MPs in sludge worldwide, (ii) determine extraction and analytical techniques used to isolate and identify these materials, and (iii) assess the fate and transport of these materials in the environment as a result of sludge disposal and reuse. Research in this area has increased as 12 countries have now reported and quantified MPs in sludge. This study highlights the need to assess the temporal and spatial differences in MP pollution in sludge, this relationship to land-applied biosolids, and the risk to human and ecological health.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	16-22
Number of pages	7
Journal	Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health
Volume	14
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2019.12.001
State	Published - Apr 2020

Keywords

Biosolids
Microplastics
Plastic pollution
Sewage sludge
Wastewater treatment plant

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Chemistry
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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10.1016/j.coesh.2019.12.001

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title = "Municipal sewage sludge as a source of microplastics in the environment",

abstract = "Wastewater treatment plants are known to contribute to microplastic (MP) pollution in freshwater and terrestrial environments, but studies on MP abundance in sludge are scarce. This study aimed to (i) conduct a literature review to assess the number and extent of MPs in sludge worldwide, (ii) determine extraction and analytical techniques used to isolate and identify these materials, and (iii) assess the fate and transport of these materials in the environment as a result of sludge disposal and reuse. Research in this area has increased as 12 countries have now reported and quantified MPs in sludge. This study highlights the need to assess the temporal and spatial differences in MP pollution in sludge, this relationship to land-applied biosolids, and the risk to human and ecological health.",

keywords = "Biosolids, Microplastics, Plastic pollution, Sewage sludge, Wastewater treatment plant",

author = "Charles Rolsky and Varun Kelkar and Erin Driver and Halden, {Rolf U.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Shireen Dooling for assistance with graphics. This work was supported in part by the Virginia Piper Trust and Award Number 1R01ES020889 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences ( NIEHS ). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIEHS or the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Funding Information: We thank Shireen Dooling for assistance with graphics. This work was supported in part by the Virginia Piper Trust and Award Number 1R01ES020889 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIEHS or the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2020",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1016/j.coesh.2019.12.001",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "14",

pages = "16--22",

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T1 - Municipal sewage sludge as a source of microplastics in the environment

AU - Rolsky, Charles

AU - Kelkar, Varun

AU - Driver, Erin

AU - Halden, Rolf U.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Shireen Dooling for assistance with graphics. This work was supported in part by the Virginia Piper Trust and Award Number 1R01ES020889 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences ( NIEHS ). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIEHS or the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Funding Information: We thank Shireen Dooling for assistance with graphics. This work was supported in part by the Virginia Piper Trust and Award Number 1R01ES020889 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIEHS or the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Publisher Copyright: © 2019 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2020/4

Y1 - 2020/4

N2 - Wastewater treatment plants are known to contribute to microplastic (MP) pollution in freshwater and terrestrial environments, but studies on MP abundance in sludge are scarce. This study aimed to (i) conduct a literature review to assess the number and extent of MPs in sludge worldwide, (ii) determine extraction and analytical techniques used to isolate and identify these materials, and (iii) assess the fate and transport of these materials in the environment as a result of sludge disposal and reuse. Research in this area has increased as 12 countries have now reported and quantified MPs in sludge. This study highlights the need to assess the temporal and spatial differences in MP pollution in sludge, this relationship to land-applied biosolids, and the risk to human and ecological health.

AB - Wastewater treatment plants are known to contribute to microplastic (MP) pollution in freshwater and terrestrial environments, but studies on MP abundance in sludge are scarce. This study aimed to (i) conduct a literature review to assess the number and extent of MPs in sludge worldwide, (ii) determine extraction and analytical techniques used to isolate and identify these materials, and (iii) assess the fate and transport of these materials in the environment as a result of sludge disposal and reuse. Research in this area has increased as 12 countries have now reported and quantified MPs in sludge. This study highlights the need to assess the temporal and spatial differences in MP pollution in sludge, this relationship to land-applied biosolids, and the risk to human and ecological health.

KW - Biosolids

KW - Microplastics

KW - Plastic pollution

KW - Sewage sludge

KW - Wastewater treatment plant

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JO - Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health

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ER -

Municipal sewage sludge as a source of microplastics in the environment

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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