A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Release of Microplastics from Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants to Aquatic Ecosystems in Acapulco, Mexico
Contamination of aquatic ecosystems by microplastics (MPs) is mainly due to the release of high levels of MP particles from treated effluents by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Due to the lack of policies and regulations establishing criteria for the control and elimination of MPs from WWTP effluents, this research evaluates the presence of 38 and 150 µm MPs in influents and effluents from three WWTPs in the port of Acapulco, Mexico. Optical microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the MPs were polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride. MP removal efficiencies of 82.5–98.7% (38 µm) and 86.8–97.5% (150 µm) were achieved. Moreover, the MP average daily emissions to the receiving bodies of the three WWTPs ranged from 9.5 × 106 to 4.70 × 108 particles, while the annual emissions ranged from 3.05 × 109 to 1.72 × 1011 particles. This work reveals the urgency of implementing regulatory policies to avoid the continuous emission of MPs into aquatic ecosystems from WWTPs in Acapulco, Mexico.
Release of Microplastics from Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants to Aquatic Ecosystems in Acapulco, Mexico
Contamination of aquatic ecosystems by microplastics (MPs) is mainly due to the release of high levels of MP particles from treated effluents by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Due to the lack of policies and regulations establishing criteria for the control and elimination of MPs from WWTP effluents, this research evaluates the presence of 38 and 150 µm MPs in influents and effluents from three WWTPs in the port of Acapulco, Mexico. Optical microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the MPs were polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride. MP removal efficiencies of 82.5–98.7% (38 µm) and 86.8–97.5% (150 µm) were achieved. Moreover, the MP average daily emissions to the receiving bodies of the three WWTPs ranged from 9.5 × 106 to 4.70 × 108 particles, while the annual emissions ranged from 3.05 × 109 to 1.72 × 1011 particles. This work reveals the urgency of implementing regulatory policies to avoid the continuous emission of MPs into aquatic ecosystems from WWTPs in Acapulco, Mexico.
Release of Microplastics from Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants to Aquatic Ecosystems in Acapulco, Mexico
Enrique J. Flores-Munguía (author) / José Luis Rosas-Acevedo (author) / Aurelio Ramírez-Hernández (author) / Alejandro Aparicio-Saguilan (author) / Rosa M. Brito-Carmona (author) / Juan Violante-González (author)
2023
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
Unknown
Metadata by DOAJ is licensed under CC BY-SA 1.0
The Mexico -- Acapulco highway
| Engineering Index Backfile | 1927
Online Contents | 1997
Microplastics in aquatic environments: Implications for Canadian ecosystems
| Online Contents | 2016
Microplastics in aquatic environments: Implications for Canadian ecosystems
| Online Contents | 2016
Territorial Inequality Driven by Tourism: A Queer Mapping of Urban Space in Acapulco, Mexico
| DOAJ | 2023