Water pollution by plastics and microplastics: a review of technical solutions from source to sea
Plastic and microplastic pollution in aquatic environments is driven by rising global plastic production and inadequate waste management. These pollutants originate from diverse sources including microbeads, synthetic textiles, and degraded larger plastics and enter water bodies via wastewater, runo...
| Autores principales: | , , , , |
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| Formato: | Informe técnico |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
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United Nations Environment Programme
2020
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| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/110544 |
| _version_ | 1855534272921731072 |
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| author | Nikiema, Josiane Mateo-Sagasta, Javier Asiedu, Zipporah Saad, Dalia Lamizana, B. |
| author_browse | Asiedu, Zipporah Lamizana, B. Mateo-Sagasta, Javier Nikiema, Josiane Saad, Dalia |
| author_facet | Nikiema, Josiane Mateo-Sagasta, Javier Asiedu, Zipporah Saad, Dalia Lamizana, B. |
| author_sort | Nikiema, Josiane |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Plastic and microplastic pollution in aquatic environments is driven by rising global plastic production and inadequate waste management. These pollutants originate from diverse sources including microbeads, synthetic textiles, and degraded larger plastics and enter water bodies via wastewater, runoff, and sludge application. They pose physical, chemical, and biological risks, though the full extent of human health impacts remains unclear. Effective management requires interventions along the entire pollution pathway. Upstream measures include mechanical and chemical recycling, product redesign, and regulatory tools such as bans and effluent standards, supported by public awareness and incentives. In urban environments, macroplastic interception through booms, gully pots, and retention ponds helps to reduce flow into open waters. Municipal wastewater treatment plants can remove over 99% of microplastics, though most accumulate in sewage sludge, creating a secondary pollution risk. Industrial wastewater treatment, particularly in textile production, also offers targeted removal but lacks standardization. Where upstream controls are insufficient, downstream solutions like constructed wetlands, debris sweepers, and advanced filtration provide additional barriers. The report emphasizes the need for gender-sensitive approaches, noting the unequal burden on women and informal workers, and calls for context-specific, integrated strategies that align environmental goals with social equity and institutional capacity. |
| format | Informe técnico |
| id | CGSpace110544 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publishDateRange | 2020 |
| publishDateSort | 2020 |
| publisher | United Nations Environment Programme |
| publisherStr | United Nations Environment Programme |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1105442025-11-07T08:04:56Z Water pollution by plastics and microplastics: a review of technical solutions from source to sea Nikiema, Josiane Mateo-Sagasta, Javier Asiedu, Zipporah Saad, Dalia Lamizana, B. water pollution microplastics waste management sea pollution wastewater treatment technology plastics freshwater pollution contamination water quality treatment plants recycling drinking water treatment industrial wastewater costs municipal wastewater solid wastes sewage sludge landfill leachates waste incineration risk public health health hazards developing countries policies energy recovery wetlands Plastic and microplastic pollution in aquatic environments is driven by rising global plastic production and inadequate waste management. These pollutants originate from diverse sources including microbeads, synthetic textiles, and degraded larger plastics and enter water bodies via wastewater, runoff, and sludge application. They pose physical, chemical, and biological risks, though the full extent of human health impacts remains unclear. Effective management requires interventions along the entire pollution pathway. Upstream measures include mechanical and chemical recycling, product redesign, and regulatory tools such as bans and effluent standards, supported by public awareness and incentives. In urban environments, macroplastic interception through booms, gully pots, and retention ponds helps to reduce flow into open waters. Municipal wastewater treatment plants can remove over 99% of microplastics, though most accumulate in sewage sludge, creating a secondary pollution risk. Industrial wastewater treatment, particularly in textile production, also offers targeted removal but lacks standardization. Where upstream controls are insufficient, downstream solutions like constructed wetlands, debris sweepers, and advanced filtration provide additional barriers. The report emphasizes the need for gender-sensitive approaches, noting the unequal burden on women and informal workers, and calls for context-specific, integrated strategies that align environmental goals with social equity and institutional capacity. 2020-12-16 2020-12-17T06:35:22Z 2020-12-17T06:35:22Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/110544 en Open Access application/pdf United Nations Environment Programme Nikiema, Josiane; Mateo-Sagasta, Javier; Asiedu, Zipporah; Saad, Dalia; Lamizana, B. 2020. Water pollution by plastics and microplastics: a review of technical solutions from source to sea. Nairobi, Kenya: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 112p. |
| spellingShingle | water pollution microplastics waste management sea pollution wastewater treatment technology plastics freshwater pollution contamination water quality treatment plants recycling drinking water treatment industrial wastewater costs municipal wastewater solid wastes sewage sludge landfill leachates waste incineration risk public health health hazards developing countries policies energy recovery wetlands Nikiema, Josiane Mateo-Sagasta, Javier Asiedu, Zipporah Saad, Dalia Lamizana, B. Water pollution by plastics and microplastics: a review of technical solutions from source to sea |
| title | Water pollution by plastics and microplastics: a review of technical solutions from source to sea |
| title_full | Water pollution by plastics and microplastics: a review of technical solutions from source to sea |
| title_fullStr | Water pollution by plastics and microplastics: a review of technical solutions from source to sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water pollution by plastics and microplastics: a review of technical solutions from source to sea |
| title_short | Water pollution by plastics and microplastics: a review of technical solutions from source to sea |
| title_sort | water pollution by plastics and microplastics a review of technical solutions from source to sea |
| topic | water pollution microplastics waste management sea pollution wastewater treatment technology plastics freshwater pollution contamination water quality treatment plants recycling drinking water treatment industrial wastewater costs municipal wastewater solid wastes sewage sludge landfill leachates waste incineration risk public health health hazards developing countries policies energy recovery wetlands |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/110544 |
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