article · Chemosphere
Tap water samples collected from three suburbs in Gauteng Province, South Africa, contained microplastics at concentrations ranging between 4.7 and 31 particles per litre, averaging 14 particles per litre. Most identified particles were smaller than one millimetre, with fibres making up over 83 per cent of the total, followed by fragments, pellets, and films. Spectroscopic analysis identified five specific polymer types, including high-density polyethylene and polyurethane, alongside four colourants recognised as carcinogenic and mutagenic. The presence of certain compounds indicates that drinking water treatment plants could act as a source of microplastics, whilst pipeline materials may also shed particles during distribution. Estimated daily ingestion rates reached 1.2 particles per kilogram for children, 0.71 for men, and 0.50 for women. These findings highlight inadequate contaminant removal during conventional municipal water treatment.
Microplastics in drinking water can expose consumers to potentially toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic chemicals, with children facing the highest estimated exposure per unit of body weight. By confirming the persistence of synthetic fibres and polymers in treated tap water, this research highlights performance gaps in existing municipal treatment systems and provides the baseline data needed to formulate regulatory standards for clean drinking water.
This early-stage analytical research provides baseline contamination data that could inform municipal water utilities, filtration equipment manufacturers, and standards regulators. The findings identify operational needs for advanced microplastic filtration and better material choices for treatment plants and distribution pipes. However, as the work is purely an observational characterisation study, it does not evaluate or present any specific commercial product, process, or technology.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
This study reports the presence, concentration, and characteristics of microplastics (MPs) in tap water in three suburbs in Gauteng Province in South Africa. Physical characterisation was conducted using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy following staining of MPs with the Rose Bengal dye. The concentrations of MPs in all samples ranged from 4.7 to 31 particles/L, with a mean of 14 ± 5.6 particles/L. Small-sized (<1 mm) and fibrous-shaped MPs were most abundant in all samples. Fibers accounted for 83.1% of MPs in samples from all the three areas, followed by fragments (12.4%), pellets/beads (3.1%), and films (1.5%), with a minor variation in the distribution of shapes and sizes in samples from each area. Raman microspectroscopy was used for chemical analysis, and five polymers were identified, namely: high-density polyethylene, polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate, poly(hexamethylene terephtalamide), and poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid). C.I Pigment Red 1, C.I. Solvent Yellow 4, Potassium indigotetrasulphonate, and C.I Pigment Black 7 were the colourants detected. These colourants are carcinogenic and mutagenic and are potentially toxic to humans. The prevalence of MPs in tap water implies their inadequate removal during water treatment. For instance, the presence of poly(AM-co-AA) suggests that drinking water treatment plants may be a potential source of MPs in tap water. Other polymers, e.g., high-density polyethylene may be released from pipes during the transportation of drinking water. The estimated daily consumption of MPs from tap water was 1.2, 0.71, and 0.50 particles/kg.day for children, men, and women, respectively. The findings of this study provide evidence of the presence of MPs in drinking water in South Africa, thus giving some insights into the performance of treatment plants in removing these contaminants and a benchmark for the formulation of standard limits for the amount of MPs in drinking water.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141903
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
