Presence of microplastics in drinking water from different freshwater sources in Flanders (Belgium), an urbanized region in Europe
Abstract Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants of concern in aquatic ecosystems. Up to now, only a few studies about MP contamination in drinking water have been published. In this study, we analysed drinking water originating from ground water, surface water and treated sewage water for the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Food Contamination |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40550-022-00091-8 |
| _version_ | 1797705197061931008 |
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| author | Ilias Semmouri Maaike Vercauteren Emmanuel Van Acker Emmy Pequeur Jana Asselman Colin Janssen |
| author_facet | Ilias Semmouri Maaike Vercauteren Emmanuel Van Acker Emmy Pequeur Jana Asselman Colin Janssen |
| author_sort | Ilias Semmouri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants of concern in aquatic ecosystems. Up to now, only a few studies about MP contamination in drinking water have been published. In this study, we analysed drinking water originating from ground water, surface water and treated sewage water for the presence of MPs, collected in different drinking water treatment plants (DWTP, n = 9) and water taps (TW, n = 9) in the geographic region of Flanders (Belgium). We report measured microplastic concentrations, size distributions, and polymer types using μFTIR spectroscopy in the range of 25–1000 μm. The MPs’ abundances in the DWTP and TW samples were on average 0.02 ± 0.03 MPs L− 1 and 0.01 ± 0.02 MPs L− 1, respectively. We did not find significant differences comparing the obtained MP concentrations according to the origin of the water. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were the most common polymer types detected in the samples. Next, based on several theoretical assumptions, we extrapolated the measured MP concentrations in our samples to cover the full theoretical MP size range (1–5000 μm) to obtain estimates of the actual MP contamination levels. The rescaled particle concentrations (1 μm – 5000 mm) were on average 5.59 MPs L− 1 and 3.76 MPs L− 1 for the DWTP and TW samples, respectively. Based on a standard consumption of two liters of drinking water per day in combination with the measured concentration in this study, Flemish people consume 0.02 MPs per capita per day via drinking water. These findings contribute in our understanding of the microplastic pollution of drinking water, which is of concern due to the potential uptake of MPs in the human body. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:33:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-82cabcbc2d4f4762b030df447d558236 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2196-2804 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:33:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Food Contamination |
| spelling | doaj.art-82cabcbc2d4f4762b030df447d5582362023-09-03T06:40:38ZengBMCInternational Journal of Food Contamination2196-28042022-07-019111110.1186/s40550-022-00091-8Presence of microplastics in drinking water from different freshwater sources in Flanders (Belgium), an urbanized region in EuropeIlias Semmouri0Maaike Vercauteren1Emmanuel Van Acker2Emmy Pequeur3Jana Asselman4Colin Janssen5Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent UniversityLaboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent UniversityLaboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent UniversityLaboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent UniversityBlue Growth Research Lab, Ghent UniversityLaboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent UniversityAbstract Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants of concern in aquatic ecosystems. Up to now, only a few studies about MP contamination in drinking water have been published. In this study, we analysed drinking water originating from ground water, surface water and treated sewage water for the presence of MPs, collected in different drinking water treatment plants (DWTP, n = 9) and water taps (TW, n = 9) in the geographic region of Flanders (Belgium). We report measured microplastic concentrations, size distributions, and polymer types using μFTIR spectroscopy in the range of 25–1000 μm. The MPs’ abundances in the DWTP and TW samples were on average 0.02 ± 0.03 MPs L− 1 and 0.01 ± 0.02 MPs L− 1, respectively. We did not find significant differences comparing the obtained MP concentrations according to the origin of the water. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were the most common polymer types detected in the samples. Next, based on several theoretical assumptions, we extrapolated the measured MP concentrations in our samples to cover the full theoretical MP size range (1–5000 μm) to obtain estimates of the actual MP contamination levels. The rescaled particle concentrations (1 μm – 5000 mm) were on average 5.59 MPs L− 1 and 3.76 MPs L− 1 for the DWTP and TW samples, respectively. Based on a standard consumption of two liters of drinking water per day in combination with the measured concentration in this study, Flemish people consume 0.02 MPs per capita per day via drinking water. These findings contribute in our understanding of the microplastic pollution of drinking water, which is of concern due to the potential uptake of MPs in the human body.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40550-022-00091-8Microplastic analysisTap waterGround waterSurface waterSewage water |
| spellingShingle | Ilias Semmouri Maaike Vercauteren Emmanuel Van Acker Emmy Pequeur Jana Asselman Colin Janssen Presence of microplastics in drinking water from different freshwater sources in Flanders (Belgium), an urbanized region in Europe International Journal of Food Contamination Microplastic analysis Tap water Ground water Surface water Sewage water |
| title | Presence of microplastics in drinking water from different freshwater sources in Flanders (Belgium), an urbanized region in Europe |
| title_full | Presence of microplastics in drinking water from different freshwater sources in Flanders (Belgium), an urbanized region in Europe |
| title_fullStr | Presence of microplastics in drinking water from different freshwater sources in Flanders (Belgium), an urbanized region in Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Presence of microplastics in drinking water from different freshwater sources in Flanders (Belgium), an urbanized region in Europe |
| title_short | Presence of microplastics in drinking water from different freshwater sources in Flanders (Belgium), an urbanized region in Europe |
| title_sort | presence of microplastics in drinking water from different freshwater sources in flanders belgium an urbanized region in europe |
| topic | Microplastic analysis Tap water Ground water Surface water Sewage water |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40550-022-00091-8 |
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