Catalogue of technologies to address the risks of contamination of water bodies with plastics and microplastics
Plastic and microplastic contamination in aquatic environments is escalating due to rapid urbanization, increasing plastic consumption, and insufficient waste management infrastructure. A wide range of technological interventions ranging from upstream prevention to downstream treatment has emerged t...
| 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/10568/110545 |
| _version_ | 1855534795518377984 |
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| author | Nikiema, Josiane Asiedu, Zipporah Mateo-Sagasta, Javier Saad, Dalia Lamizana, B. |
| author_browse | Asiedu, Zipporah Lamizana, B. Mateo-Sagasta, Javier Nikiema, Josiane Saad, Dalia |
| author_facet | Nikiema, Josiane Asiedu, Zipporah Mateo-Sagasta, Javier Saad, Dalia Lamizana, B. |
| author_sort | Nikiema, Josiane |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Plastic and microplastic contamination in aquatic environments is escalating due to rapid urbanization, increasing plastic consumption, and insufficient waste management infrastructure. A wide range of technological interventions ranging from upstream prevention to downstream treatment has emerged to mitigate the release of plastic pollutants into water bodies. Preventive measures include design improvements in textiles to reduce microfiber shedding, implementation of household filters, and behavioral change strategies to minimize single-use plastics. In urban landscapes, runoff pre-treatment systems, such as retention ponds and constructed wetlands, help capture plastics before they reach open waters. At the municipal level, wastewater treatment systems play a pivotal role. Primary treatment stages effectively remove larger particles, while advanced tertiary filtration, including membrane bioreactors and rapid sand filters, targets microplastics. Downstream interventions, such as litter traps, river booms, and floating debris collectors (e.g., Seabins), are used to extract plastics from surface waters, particularly in high-traffic urban waterways. The selection and effectiveness of these technologies depend on local hydrology, pollutant load, regulatory frameworks, and available infrastructure.
Equity considerations are also essential. Women and marginalized groups are disproportionately exposed to health risks linked to plastic waste and should be actively included in policy and system design. Context-specific, integrated solutions are necessary to ensure both environmental and social sustainability. |
| format | Informe técnico |
| id | CGSpace110545 |
| 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 | CGSpace1105452025-11-07T08:04:57Z Catalogue of technologies to address the risks of contamination of water bodies with plastics and microplastics Nikiema, Josiane Asiedu, Zipporah Mateo-Sagasta, Javier Saad, Dalia Lamizana, B. wastewater treatment technology microplastics contamination treatment plants water pollution plastics risk waste management recycling drinking water treatment sewage sludge landfill leachates waste incineration industrial wastewater effluents filtration sea pollution wetlands cost benefit analysis maintenance developing countries gender women policies investment Plastic and microplastic contamination in aquatic environments is escalating due to rapid urbanization, increasing plastic consumption, and insufficient waste management infrastructure. A wide range of technological interventions ranging from upstream prevention to downstream treatment has emerged to mitigate the release of plastic pollutants into water bodies. Preventive measures include design improvements in textiles to reduce microfiber shedding, implementation of household filters, and behavioral change strategies to minimize single-use plastics. In urban landscapes, runoff pre-treatment systems, such as retention ponds and constructed wetlands, help capture plastics before they reach open waters. At the municipal level, wastewater treatment systems play a pivotal role. Primary treatment stages effectively remove larger particles, while advanced tertiary filtration, including membrane bioreactors and rapid sand filters, targets microplastics. Downstream interventions, such as litter traps, river booms, and floating debris collectors (e.g., Seabins), are used to extract plastics from surface waters, particularly in high-traffic urban waterways. The selection and effectiveness of these technologies depend on local hydrology, pollutant load, regulatory frameworks, and available infrastructure. Equity considerations are also essential. Women and marginalized groups are disproportionately exposed to health risks linked to plastic waste and should be actively included in policy and system design. Context-specific, integrated solutions are necessary to ensure both environmental and social sustainability. 2020-12-16 2020-12-17T06:42:24Z 2020-12-17T06:42:24Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/110545 en Open Access application/pdf United Nations Environment Programme Nikiema, Josiane; Asiedu, Zipporah; Mateo-Sagasta, Javier; Saad, Dalia; Lamizana, B. 2020. Catalogue of technologies to address the risks of contamination of water bodies with plastics and microplastics. Nairobi, Kenya: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 62p. |
| spellingShingle | wastewater treatment technology microplastics contamination treatment plants water pollution plastics risk waste management recycling drinking water treatment sewage sludge landfill leachates waste incineration industrial wastewater effluents filtration sea pollution wetlands cost benefit analysis maintenance developing countries gender women policies investment Nikiema, Josiane Asiedu, Zipporah Mateo-Sagasta, Javier Saad, Dalia Lamizana, B. Catalogue of technologies to address the risks of contamination of water bodies with plastics and microplastics |
| title | Catalogue of technologies to address the risks of contamination of water bodies with plastics and microplastics |
| title_full | Catalogue of technologies to address the risks of contamination of water bodies with plastics and microplastics |
| title_fullStr | Catalogue of technologies to address the risks of contamination of water bodies with plastics and microplastics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Catalogue of technologies to address the risks of contamination of water bodies with plastics and microplastics |
| title_short | Catalogue of technologies to address the risks of contamination of water bodies with plastics and microplastics |
| title_sort | catalogue of technologies to address the risks of contamination of water bodies with plastics and microplastics |
| topic | wastewater treatment technology microplastics contamination treatment plants water pollution plastics risk waste management recycling drinking water treatment sewage sludge landfill leachates waste incineration industrial wastewater effluents filtration sea pollution wetlands cost benefit analysis maintenance developing countries gender women policies investment |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/110545 |
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