Advancing Evaluation of Microplastics Thresholds to Inform Water Treatment Needs and Risks  

作　　者：Omar S.Chowdhury Philip J.Schmidt William B.Anderson Monica B.Emelko 

机构地区：[1]Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,University of Waterloo,200 University Avenue West,Waterloo,ON N2L 3G1,Canada

出　　处：《Environment & Health》2024年第7期441-452,共12页环境与健康（英文）

基　　金：This research was undertaken,in part,thanks to funding from the Canada Research Chairs(CRC)Program;It was also supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)and the Regional Municipality of Waterloo(ROW),Waterloo,Ontario,Canada[Agreement#081291].

摘　　要：Although human health impacts of microplastics are not well understood,concern regarding chemical contaminants retained on or within them is growing.Drinking water providers are increasingly asked about these risks,but strategies for evaluating them and the extent of treatment needed to manage them are currently lacking.Microplastics can potentially induce health effects if the concentration of contaminants adsorbed to them exceeds predetermined drinking water guidelines(e.g.,Maximum Contaminant Levels).The risk posed by microplastics due to adsorbed contaminants is difficult to determine,but a worst-case scenario can be evaluated by using adsorption capacity.Here,a“Threshold Microplastics Concentration”(TMC)framework is developed to evaluate whether waterborne microplastic concentrations can potentially result in the intake of regulated contaminants on/in microplastics at levels of human health concern and identify treatment targets for managing associated health risk.Exceeding the TMC does not indicate an immediate health risk;it informs the need for detailed risk assessment or further treatment evaluation to ensure particle removal targets are achieved.Thus,the TMC concept and framework provide an updateable,science-based screening tool to determine if there is a need for detailed risk assessment or treatment modification due to waterborne microplastics in supplies used for potable water production.

关 键 词：drinking water treatment chemical contaminants adsorption capacity risk management maximum contaminant level 

分 类 号：R123[医药卫生—环境卫生学]