New research from The University of Texas at Arlington reveals that microplastics continue to infiltrate waterways, even after undergoing modern wastewater treatment processes, raising serious environmental and health concerns.
Microplastics—tiny plastic particles measuring five millimeters or smaller, roughly the size of a pencil eraser—originate from the breakdown of larger plastic waste. Due to plastic’s affordability, durability, and lightweight properties, it is widely used across industries, from food packaging to clothing and personal care products. However, once discarded, plastic materials never fully decompose; instead, they fragment into microplastics that contaminate soil and water sources.
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The study underscores the urgent need for new filtration technologies and environmental policies aimed at mitigating the spread of microplastics. As plastic consumption continues to grow globally, addressing microplastic pollution becomes critical for protecting both ecosystems and public health.
“What our systematic literature review found is that while most wastewater treatment facilities significantly reduce microplastics loads, complete removal remains unattainable with current technologies,” said Un-Jung Kim, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at UT Arlington and senior author of the study published in Science of the Total Environment.
“As a result, many microplastics are being reintroduced into the environment, likely transporting other residual harmful pollutants in wastewater, such the chemicals Bisphenols, PFAS and antibiotics,” Dr. Kim added. “These microplastics and organic pollutants would exist in trace level, but we can get exposure through simple actions like drinking water, doing laundry or watering plants, leading to potential long-term serious human health impacts such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.”
According to the study, one of the main challenges in detecting and mitigating microplastics is the lack of standardized testing methods. The researchers also call for a unified approach to define what size particle qualifies as a microplastic.
“We found that the effectiveness of treatments varies depending on the technology communities use and how microplastics are measured to calculate the removal rates,” said the study’s lead author, Jenny Kim Nguyen. “One way to better address the growing microplastics issue is to develop standardized testing methods that provide a clearer understanding of the issue.”
