Microplastics in Drinking Water: Assessing Occurrence and Potential Risks

Paresh Kumar; Yagyavalkya Sharma; Sameer Singh; Surabhi Sharma

doi:10.55544/jrasb.2.3.25

Authors

Paresh Kumar Associate Professor, School of Basic Science and Technology (Chemistry), IIMT University, Meerut, INDIA.
Yagyavalkya Sharma Senior Scientist, Department of Biotechnology & Microbiology, Kalp Laboratories, Mathura, INDIA.
Sameer Singh Department of Oil Technology, School of Chemical Technology, Harcourt Butler Technical University, Kanpur, INDIA.
Surabhi Sharma Research Scholar, Department of Medical Microbiology Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College & Research Centre, Moradabad, INDIA.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55544/jrasb.2.3.25

Keywords:

microplastics, drinking water, occurrence, risks, contamination, polymer composition, health effects, pollution mitigation

Abstract

Microplastics, small plastic particles measuring less than 5 millimeters, have emerged as a significant environmental concern due to their widespread presence in freshwater sources, including drinking water. This review paper aims to assess the occurrence of microplastics in drinking water and evaluate their potential risks to human health. The study employs a comprehensive approach to investigate microplastic contamination in drinking water sources, encompassing surface water bodies (such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs) and groundwater reservoirs. This review underscores the urgent need for further research to enhance our understanding of microplastics' fate, transport, and potential health impacts on drinking water. It emphasizes the importance of standardized sampling and analytical techniques to facilitate accurate comparisons across studies. Furthermore, it emphasizes the necessity of implementing effective strategies to reduce and prevent microplastic pollution at its source, thereby ensuring safe and clean drinking water to populations globally.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Allen, S., Allen, D., Phoenix, V. R., Le Roux, G., Durántez Jiménez, P., Simonneau, A., ... & Turner, A. (2019). Atmospheric transport and deposition of microplastics in a remote mountain catchment. Nature Geoscience, 12(5), 339-344.

Andrady, A. L. (2017). Microplastics in the marine environment. Marine pollution bulletin, 119(1), 12-22.

AWWA. (2015). Activated Carbon for Water and Wastewater Treatment: Integration of Adsorption and Biological Treatment. American Water Works Association.

AWWA. (2017). Water Quality and Treatment: A Handbook on Drinking Water (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

AWWA. (2019). Water Treatment Plant Design (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

Bour, A., Avio, C. G., Gorbi, S., Regoli, F., & Poirier, L. (2020). Microplastics in marine mammal welfare and conservation. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 1-18.

Browne, M. A., Dissanayake, A., Galloway, T. S., Lowe, D. M., & Thompson, R. C. (2008). Ingested microscopic plastic translocates to the circulatory system of the mussel, Mytilus edulis (L.). Environmental science & technology, 42(13), 5026-5031.

Cai, L., Wang, J., Peng, J., Tan, Z., Zhan, Z., Shi, H., ... & Cai, L. (2020). Airborne microplastics in the indoor and outdoor environments: A review. Environmental Pollution, 267, 115682.

Cózar, A., Echevarría, F., González-Gordillo, J. I., Irigoien, X., Úbeda, B., Hernández-León, S., ... & Duarte, C. M. (2014). Plastic debris in the open ocean. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(28), 10239-10244.

Crittenden, J. C., Trussell, R. R., Hand, D. W., Howe, K. J., & Tchobanoglous, G. (2012). Water Treatment: Principles and Design. John Wiley & Sons.

Deng, Y., Zhang, S., Zhou, P., Liu, Y., & Yang, H. (2021). Microplastics and nanoplastics in aquatic environments: Aggregation, deposition, and adsorption behavior. Environmental pollution, 287, 117368.

Derraik, J. G. (2002). The pollution of the marine environment by plastic debris: a review. Marine pollution bulletin, 44(9), 842-852.

Drioli, E., & Giorno, L. (Eds.). (2010). Comprehensive Membrane Science and Engineering (2nd ed.). Elsevier.

Dris, R., Gasperi, J., Saad, M., Mirande, C., Tassin, B., & Rocher, V. (2017). Microplastic contamination in an urban area: A case study in Greater Paris. Environmental Chemistry, 14(1), 45-54.

Edwards, M., & Benjamin, M. M. (2004). Drinking Water Treatment: Focusing on Appropriate Technology and Sustainability. IWA Publishing.

Edzwald, J. K. (2011). Water Quality & Treatment: A Handbook on Drinking Water (6th ed.). American Water Works Association.

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). (2016). Statement on the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in food, with particular focus on seafood. EFSA Journal, 14(6), e04501.

Elimelech, M., & Phillip, W. A. (2011). The Future of Seawater Desalination: Energy, Technology, and the Environment. Science, 333(6043), 712-717.

EPA, United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2020). Microplastics: Analytical Methods and Occurrence in Drinking Water (Final Method 1633). EPA.

Gewert, B., Plassmann, M. M., & MacLeod, M. (2015). Pathways for degradation of plastic polymers floating in the marine environment. Environmental science & technology, 49(24), 15186-15198.

Ghernaout, D., & Elboughdiri, N. (2018). Water Treatment Technologies: An Overview. In Water Treatment. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.70872

Hartmann, N. B., Hüffer, T., Thompson, R. C., Hassellöv, M., Verschoor, A., & Daugaard, A. E. (2019). Are we speaking the same language? Recommendations for a definition and categorization framework for plastic debris. Environmental science & technology, 53(3), 1039-1047.

Koelmans, A. A., Bakir, A., Burton, G. A., & Janssen, C. R. (2016). Microplastic as a vector for chemicals in the aquatic environment: Critical review and model-supported reinterpretation of empirical studies. Environmental science & technology, 50(7), 3315-3326.

Koelmans, A. A., Besseling, E., & Shim, W. J. (2019). Nanoplastics in the Aquatic Environment. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 49(1), 32-58.

Kosuth, M., Mason, S. A., & Wattenberg, E. V. (2018). Anthropogenic contamination of tap water, beer, and sea salt. PloS one, 13(4), e0194970.

Lebreton, L., Slat, B., Ferrari, F., Sainte-Rose, B., Aitken, J., Marthouse, R., ... & Reisser, J. (2017). Evidence that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is rapidly accumulating plastic. Scientific reports, 7(1), 1-7.

Liebezeit, G., & Liebezeit, E. (2014). Synthetic particles as contaminants in German beers. Food additives & contaminants: Part A, 31(9), 1574-1578.

Mason, S. A., Welch, V. G., & Neratko, J. (2018). Synthetic polymer contamination in bottled water. Frontiers in chemistry, 6, 407.

Mattsson, K., Johnson, E. V., Malmendal, A., Linse, S., Hansson, L. A., & Cedervall, T. (2015). Brain damage and behavioural disorders in fish induced by plastic nanoparticles delivered through the food chain. Scientific reports, 5(1), 1-9.

Mattsson, K., Johnson, E. V., Malmendal, A., Linse, S., Hansson, L. A., & Cedervall, T. (2017). Altered behavior, physiology, and metabolism in fish exposed to polystyrene nanoparticles. Environmental science & technology, 51(1), 154-161.

Napper, I. E., & Thompson, R. C. (2020). Release of synthetic microplastic plastic fibres from domestic washing machines: Effects of fabric type and washing conditions. Marine pollution bulletin, 158, 111375.

Rist, S., Carney Almroth, B., & Hartmann, N. B. (2018). Microplastic–a macrochallenge for marine science. Frontiers in Marine Science, 5, 1-5.

Rochman, C. M., Hoh, E., Kurobe, T., & Teh, S. J. (2013). Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress. Scientific reports, 3(1), 1-7.

Rößler, O., Foit, K., & Vollertsen, J. (2020). Microplastic abundance and distribution in freshwater sediments: Insights from the European microplastic database. Water research, 186, 116360.

Schwabl, P., Köppel, S., Königshofer, P., Bucsics, T., Trauner, M., Reiberger, T., ... & Reiberger, T. (2019). Detection of various microplastics in human stool: a prospective case series. Annals of internal medicine, 171(7), 453-457.

Schymanski, D., Goldbeck, C., Humpf, H. U., & Fürst, P. (2018). Analysis of microplastics in water by micro-Raman spectroscopy: Release of plastic particles from different packaging into mineral water. Water research, 129, 154-162.

Snoeyink, V. L., & Jenkins, D. (2014). Water Chemistry (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

Wagner, M., Scherer, C., Alvarez-Muñoz, D., Brennholt, N., Bourrain, X., Buchinger, S., ... & Reemtsma, T. (2014). Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: what we know and what we need to know. Environmental sciences Europe, 26(1), 1-9.

Wright, S. L., Kelly, F. J., & Drage, D. S. (2019). Plastic and human health: a micro issue? Environmental science & technology, 53(7), 3774-3775.

Wright, S. L., Thompson, R. C., & Galloway, T. S. (2013). The physical impacts of microplastics on marine organisms: a review. Environmental pollution, 178, 483-492.

Zhang, H., Zhang, L., & Zhou, Y. (2019). Atmospheric microplastics: A review on current status and perspectives. Earth-Science Reviews, 193, 1-10.

Zhang, S., Yang, L., Cheng, W., & Peng, J. (2020). Microplastics in drinking water: A review and assessment. Environmental Pollution, 267, 115682.

Zularisam, A. W., Ismail, A. F., Salim, R., & Jaafar, J. (2019). Recent Developments in Membrane Technology for Water Treatment. Water, 11(4), 773.