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Influence of wastewater treatment plant discharges on microplastic concentrations in surface water
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Estahbanati, Shirin. Influence of wastewater treatment plant discharges on microplastic concentrations in surface water. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3S184NS

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TitleInfluence of wastewater treatment plant discharges on microplastic concentrations in surface water
NameEstahbanati, Shirin (author); Fahrenfeld, Nicole L (chair); Rutgers University; Graduate School - New Brunswick
Date Created2016
Other Date2016-05 (degree)
SubjectCivil and Environmental Engineering, Marine debris--Environmental aspects, Sewage disposal plants
Extent1 online resource (v, 34 p. : ill.)
DescriptionThe abundance of microplastic particles in the marine environment is well documented, but less is known about microplastics in the freshwater environment. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) do not effectively remove microplastics allowing for their release to the freshwater environment. To investigate concentration of microplastic in fresh water and the impact of WWTP effluent, samples were collected upstream and downstream of four major municipal WWTPs on the Raritan River, NJ. Microplastics were categorized into three quantitative categories (500-2000 µm, 250-500 µm, 125-250 µm), and one semi-quantitative category (63-125 µm). Then, microplastics were classified as primary (manufactured in small size) or secondary (derived from larger plastics) based on morphology. The concentration of microplastics in the 125-250 and 250-500µm size categories significantly increased downstream of WWTP. The smaller size classes, often not quantified in microplastic studies, were in high relative abundance across sampling sites. While primary microplastics significantly increased downstream of WWTP, secondary microplastic was the dominant type in the quantitative size categories (66-88%). Interestingly, no correlation between microplastic and distance downstream was observed. These results have implications for understanding the fate and transport of microplastics in the freshwater environment.
NoteM.S.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Noteby Shirin Estahbanati
Genretheses, ETD graduate
Persistent URLhttps://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3S184NS
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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