Environmental science. Advances最新文献

{"title":"Carbon dots: a promising path towards environmental sustainability","authors":"Ajith Manayil Parambil and Paulraj Rajamani","doi":"10.1039/D4VA00273C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4VA00273C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Carbon dots (CDs) have received a lot of interest in recent years because of their unique features and wide range of uses, especially in environmental research. Several reviews have already addressed different aspects of CDs, including production, optical characteristics, and applications in bioimaging and drug administration. However, there is a significant void in the research regarding CDs' full environmental potential, particularly in addressing environmental deterioration through monitoring and rehabilitation. This article separates itself by concentrating on the significance of co-formed molecules in modifying CD properties, as well as the importance of purifying methods for optimal environmental performance. Previous assessments have typically neglected how co-formed compounds during synthesis can have a significant impact on CD surface chemistry, solubility, and photoluminescence properties. This perspective delves into how tailoring the synthesis and purification of CDs can optimize them for environmental applications. The article then looks into the promising future of CDs for environmental monitoring and remediation. Their distinguishing characteristics make them appropriate for sensing applications such as fluorescence-based detection, colorimetric sensing, and electrochemical sensing. Furthermore, CDs have the potential to accelerate the breakdown of organic pollutants, hence increasing the effectiveness of environmental restoration efforts. Their vast surface area and variable surface chemistry enable the effective sorptive removal of organic and inorganic contaminants from water. Integrating CDs with membrane filtration systems improves pollutant removal efficiency. Then, we investigated the mechanisms behind the antibacterial properties of CDs. By extensively studying these issues, this paper intends to demonstrate the revolutionary potential of CDs in building a more ecologically friendly and sustainable future.</p>","PeriodicalId":72941,"journal":{"name":"Environmental science. Advances","volume":" 11","pages":" 1513-1523"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/va/d4va00273c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142524254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monitoring plastic pollution using bioindicators: a global review and recommendations for marine environments","authors":"Matthew S. Savoca, Neil Angelo Abreo, Andres H. Arias, Laura Baes, Matteo Baini, Elisa Bergami, Susanne Brander, Miquel Canals, C. Anela Choy, Ilaria Corsi, Bavo De Witte, Camila Domit, Sarah Dudas, Emily M. Duncan, Claudia E. Fernández, Maria Cristina Fossi, Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez, Brendan J. Godley, Daniel González-Paredes, Victoria González Carman, Bonnie M. Hamilton, Britta Denise Hardesty, Sang Hee Hong, Shirel Kahane-Rapport, Lauren M. Kashiwabara, Mariana Baptista Lacerda, Guillermo Luna-Jorquera, Clara Manno, Sarah E. Nelms, Cristina Panti, Diego J. Pérez-Venegas, Christopher K. Pham, Jennifer F. Provencher, Sara Purca, Harunur Rashid, Yasmina Rodríguez, Conrad Sparks, ChengJun Sun, Martin Thiel, Catherine Tsangaris and Robson G. Santos","doi":"10.1039/D4VA00174E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4VA00174E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Monitoring the movement of plastic into marine food webs is central to understanding and mitigating the plastic pollution crisis. Bioindicators have been a component of the environmental monitoring toolkit for decades, but how, where, and which bioindicators are used in long-term monitoring programs has not yet been assessed. Moreover, these programs have yet to be synthesized and evaluated globally. Doing so is imperative if we are to learn from these pioneering programs and expand on their efforts. We reviewed global monitoring programs using bioindicators that focus on plastic pollution and found 11 worldwide that met our definition of long-term monitoring. Limited data availability and few programs in the Global South hinder progress on tracking global trends. Most commonly, long-term programs either tracked macroplastics with opportunistic sampling of large vertebrates or monitored microplastics with targeted sampling of invertebrates. These long-term bioindicators could be incorporated as essential ocean variables in the global ocean observing system, and thus provide critical insights into the trajectory and effects of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems. However, to enhance the effectiveness and inclusivity of these monitoring efforts, there is a pressing need for the implementation of harmonized and standardized methods, increased collaboration between regions, and greater support for data sharing and open science practices. By addressing these challenges and expanding the geographic scope of monitoring programs, we can better inform evidence-based policies and interventions aimed at mitigating plastic pollution on a global scale.</p>","PeriodicalId":72941,"journal":{"name":"Environmental science. Advances","volume":" 1","pages":" 10-32"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/va/d4va00174e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142976318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lignin cationization for the removal of phosphates and nitrates from effluents of wastewater treatment plants†","authors":"Fannyuy V. Kewir, Carlos E. Astete, Divine B. Nde, Jessica R. Eberhard, W. David Constant and Cristina M. Sabliov","doi":"10.1039/D4VA00312H","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4VA00312H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The removal of phosphates and nitrates from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents is important for preventing pollution of receiving waters. In this study, we chemically modified alkaline lignin (aLN) with quaternary ammonium groups to obtain biodegradable cationic lignin (cLN). We characterized the cLN and tested its efficacy for removing phosphates and nitrates in a lab setting and on field-collected WWTP samples. Adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies were performed in aqueous media, and the effects of several variables (contact time, pH, initial concentration, and adsorbent dose) were investigated. The Langmuir isotherm described phosphate and nitrate adsorption well, with <em>R</em><small>²</small> values of 0.97 and 0.84, and maximum adsorption capacities of 0.59 mg g<small>⁻¹</small> and 2 mg g<small>⁻¹</small> respectively. For phosphate, the data fit the Freundlich isotherm model with an <em>R</em><small>²</small> of 0.95, suggesting that both homogenous and heterogeneous adsorbent surfaces were involved in phosphate adsorption. Adsorption kinetics revealed that both phosphate and nitrate sorption onto cLN was better described by the pseudo-second-order model, with a correlation coefficient of 1. Furthermore, a 2-dimension Doehlert matrix was used to model the effect of initial concentration and adsorbent dose on the phosphate and nitrate removal. The results showed that cLN 1516 mol% was most effective for low phosphate and nitrate concentrations. With an obtained optimum adsorbent dose of 10 mg mL<small>⁻¹</small>, we achieved a successful reduction of nutrient loads of WWTP effluent from 0.42 mg L<small>⁻¹</small> to 0.18 mg L<small>⁻¹</small> (adsorption capacity of 0.6 mg g<small>⁻¹</small>) and from 4.1 mg L<small>⁻¹</small> to 2.3 mg L<small>⁻¹</small> (adsorption capacity of 4.5 mg g<small>⁻¹</small>), corresponding to the removal of 57.7% and 43.9% for phosphates and nitrates respectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":72941,"journal":{"name":"Environmental science. Advances","volume":" 12","pages":" 1722-1734"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/va/d4va00312h?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142714076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microplastics analysis: from qualitative to quantitative","authors":"Meina Huang, Chunying Si, Chuntian Qiu and Guoqing Wang","doi":"10.1039/D4VA00244J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4VA00244J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Microplastics (MPs) are a class of non-degradable pollutants of global concern. MPs ubiquitously exist in the natural environment and can get inevitably transferred to the human body. Although the impacts of MPs on the ecosystem are not clearly defined yet, their toxicity to human health is becoming a concern. The complexity of MPs caused by the presence of heavy metals and organic pollution further makes it a great challenge to analyze MPs rapidly and accurately. Demanding pretreatment and insufficient data acquisition seriously hinder the precise understanding of the risk of MPs to the ecosystem and human health. Herein, this review covers recent advances in the separation of MPs, identification, and quantification methods while discussing their mechanisms and efficacy. Furthermore, this review details the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of MPs, offering a comprehensive overview of the up-to-date strategies that overcome current technological limitations. Finally, challenges and prospective outlooks for the rapid and accurate analysis of MPs are presented.</p>","PeriodicalId":72941,"journal":{"name":"Environmental science. Advances","volume":" 12","pages":" 1652-1668"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/va/d4va00244j?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142714126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intensive aquaculture affects lake's trophic status and aquatic floral diversity†","authors":"Divya Dubey, Kiran Toppo, Saroj Kumar and Venkatesh Dutta","doi":"10.1039/D4VA00038B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4VA00038B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This study aims to assess the impact of intensive aquaculture on a lake that has experienced significant anthropogenic impacts. Specifically, it investigates the consequences of aquaculture activities, such as <em>Trapa</em> cultivation (water chestnut) and fish rearing, on the lake's water quality, trophic state, and floristic diversity, with a primary emphasis on algae and macrophytes. Satellite imageries spanning the last five decades, from 1976 to 2022, were analyzed to understand the impact of urbanization and changes in land use and land cover within the lake's catchment. The study found that aquaculture activities negatively impacted algae and macrophytes' diversity, dominance, and community structure in the freshwater lake. The study reported a total of 61 algal species from five families during both sampling phases. Dominant species belonged to the Chlorophyceae and Euglenophyceae families, alongside several diatom species. Notably, the reported algal species served as bioindicators of organic pollution, as assessed by the algae pollution index. During the second year of sampling, intensive fish-rearing activities disrupted the macrophytic diversity, which was replaced by the proliferated growth of planktonic algae, resulting in the biotic shift of the lake's floristic diversity. The study provides valuable insights into the effective management of lakes impacted by intensive aquaculture, shedding light on the intricate relationships between aquaculture practices and the ecological dynamics of freshwater ecosystems in developing countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":72941,"journal":{"name":"Environmental science. Advances","volume":" 11","pages":" 1628-1642"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/va/d4va00038b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142524276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A hybrid anion exchanger with nanoscale zero valent iron for trace hexavalent chromium removal from drinking water†","authors":"Annabel L. Mungan, Elizabeth A. Hjelvik, Anthony P. Straub and Julie A. Korak","doi":"10.1039/D4VA00246F","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4VA00246F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Hexavalent chromium, Cr(<small>VI</small>), is a human carcinogen that occurs in groundwater worldwide. While not federally regulated in the USA, the State of California has approved a new Cr(<small>VI</small>) maximum contaminant level at 10 μg L<small>⁻¹</small>, expected to go into effect fall 2024. This study synthesizes, characterizes, and verifies performance of a hybrid strong base anion exchanger with nanoscale zero valent iron (NZVI-resin) for trace Cr(<small>VI</small>) removal from drinking water. NZVI-resin was synthesized by exchanging tetrachloroferrate ion (FeCl<small>₄</small><small>⁻</small>) onto the resin prior to sodium borohydride (NaBH<small>₄</small>) reduction. The impact of important synthesis variables was identified, including reagent concentrations and molar ratios, solvent selection, temperature, and drying procedure. Material characterization techniques (<em>e.g.</em> SEM-EDS and XPS) determined NZVI presence and elemental distribution on the resin surface. Our work showed a 360% increase in treated water throughput using NZVI-resin compared to unmodified resin for trace Cr(<small>VI</small>) removal in column experiments. This work presents a broad assessment of the material characteristics of NZVI-resin, discusses the limitations of batch tests, and describes operational challenges for Cr(<small>VI</small>) treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":72941,"journal":{"name":"Environmental science. Advances","volume":" 11","pages":" 1598-1615"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/va/d4va00246f?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142524274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Iron complexation by biomass model compounds†","authors":"Anurag S. Mandalika and Troy M. Runge","doi":"10.1039/D3VA00383C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D3VA00383C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Iron chelating agents have important roles to play, both in human physiology and in the environment. In the latter case, persistence in the environment has given cause for concern in the case of synthetic iron chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), which do not readily biodegrade. Due to their long lifespan in the environment synthetic iron chelators can also participate in mobilization reactions, particularly with radionuclides such as <small>⁶⁰</small>Co. There is an eminent need to explore alternative iron chelating compounds, preferably, renewable in origin, to overcome the drawbacks of synthetic compounds, making plant biomass a potential source of iron chelating agents. Twelve biomass model compounds, representative of the biomass constituents, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and extractives (tannins), were tested for their iron complexation ability by measurement of the binding strengths with Fe(<small>II</small>) and Fe(<small>III</small>) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), to ensure solubility, using spectrophotometric titration. The flavonols, kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin displayed the strongest binding affinity to Fe(<small>II</small>) and Fe(<small>III</small>) along with the greatest positive cooperativity as determined by the calculation of Hill coefficients. The lignin-representative compound, <em>p</em>-coumaric acid, showed the highest binding affinity to Fe(<small>II</small>) only. Carbohydrate model compounds did not show any evidence of binding to iron, despite some contrary evidence in literature about their ability to do so. This study points to the potential role that the flavonols class of compounds, and therefore by extension, plant tissues that are rich in extractives, may play in the exploration of biomass-derived iron chelants.</p>","PeriodicalId":72941,"journal":{"name":"Environmental science. Advances","volume":" 11","pages":" 1616-1627"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/va/d3va00383c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142524275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“Tree of life”: how baobab seed-derived biochar could lead to water safety for underprivileged communities through heavy metal (Fe) removal – SDG 6","authors":"Magdalena J. Mkelemi, Grite N. Mwaijengo and Mwemezi J. Rwiza","doi":"10.1039/D4VA00205A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4VA00205A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The abnormally gigantic baobab tree (<em>Adansonia digitata</em>) is often referred to as the “Tree of Life” due to its ability to provide food, water, shelter, and traditional medicine for both humans and animals in arid regions. This special tree is a landmark of Africa's savanna and has attracted the attention of the global research community. This study investigated the potential of biochar derived from baobab seeds for the removal of metallic ions from groundwater. The biochar, prepared at 700 °C, exhibited a unique surface morphology with deep voids and varied structures, suggesting increased surface area and favorable conditions for adsorption. SEM-EDX analyses confirmed the elemental composition, with carbon being the predominant element. Furthermore, XRD analysis indicated an amorphous structure, enhancing adsorption capacity for heavy metal ions. Additionally, BET analysis revealed a significant surface area (1386.704 m<small>²</small> g<small>⁻¹</small>) and well-defined pores, emphasizing the material's potential for metallic ion removal. The metallic ion of choice for this research was Fe because of its abundance in the study area and the community's need for affordable technology for discoloration of reddish-brown groundwater caused by Fe ion presence. In the batch mode equilibrium studies, the effect of pH, contact time, adsorbent particle size, adsorbent dose, solution temperature, and initial metal ion concentration was investigated. Optimal pH metallic ion removal occurred under neutral pH conditions, with higher removal efficiency observed at increased contact time (up to 120 min) and adsorbent doses. Adsorption isotherm modeling using Langmuir and Freundlich models indicated favorable adsorption, with the Freundlich model providing a slightly better fit. In conclusion, baobab seed-derived biochar demonstrated promising potential as an efficient and sustainable adsorbent for metal ion removal from groundwater. Further exploration, including the development of activated carbon and field applications, is recommended for a comprehensive understanding and practical optimization of this material's capabilities for metal ion removal.</p>","PeriodicalId":72941,"journal":{"name":"Environmental science. Advances","volume":" 12","pages":" 1735-1745"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/va/d4va00205a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142714045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Aqueous solution degradation pathways of trimethylsiloxane surfactants†","authors":"Maleigh Mifkovic, Brian D. Etz, Manoj K. Shukla and Shubham Vyas","doi":"10.1039/D4VA00256C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4VA00256C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Trimethylsiloxane (TriSil) surfactants are promising alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are global recalcitrant and persistent environmental contaminants, in aqueous film-forming fire-fighting foams (AFFF). However, much less information is available on the environmental fate and degradation of TriSil surfactants. Thus, it is important to study the degradation chemistry of fluorine-free TriSil surfactants in the solution phase under various conditions to further assess their environmental impact. This computational study reports the prominent hydrolysis, reduction, and oxidation pathways of a truncated TriSil and proposes the major degradation products using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We have identified the polydimethylsiloxane unit of TriSil to play a prominent role in aqueous solution reactivity initiated <em>via</em> hydrolysis and reduction, while oxidation mainly proceeds through H-atom abstraction along the polyethylene glycol unit. The results of this study aid in establishing the use of the alternative fluorine-free surfactant, TriSil, for fire-fighting foams from an environmental perspective.</p>","PeriodicalId":72941,"journal":{"name":"Environmental science. Advances","volume":" 1","pages":" 147-158"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/va/d4va00256c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142976322","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wet wipes in untreated wastewater are a source of litter pollution to the arctic marine environment – a case study on the loads of litter and microplastics in wastewater effluents in Greenland†","authors":"Lis Bach, Jakob Strand, Hadi Salame, Márta Simon, Janne Fritt-Rasmussen and Pernille Erland Jensen","doi":"10.1039/D4VA00233D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4VA00233D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Plastic litter is ubiquitous in the Arctic marine environment, but knowledge of the importance of specific sources is limited. This project aimed to investigate the input of plastic from untreated sewage discharged to the sea in Greenland. A method was developed to sample and quantify inputs of plastic in different size fractions from wastewater from two towns in Greenland. Plastic findings were visually characterized in terms of abundance, morphology, size, and chemically by characterizing the polymer composition using FTIR spectroscopy. The wastewater was found to be a source of both macro- and micro-sized plastic pollution. Of the total litter load, 70% of the mass was from plastic items larger than 25 mm. Wet wipes were found to be dominating and constituted 59% of the total emitted plastic by mass, but other sanitary items (sanitary pads and condoms) were also detected. A polymeric characterization of the macro-items by ATR-FTIR revealed that the wet wipes were mainly of PET (polyethylene terephthalate, a polyester) but also viscose and cellulose wet wipes were detected. In the microplastic fraction (&lt;300 μm), the main contributor was PP (polypropylene; 65%), but also PE (polyethylene), PES (polyester), PS (polystyrene), cellulose and other polymers were detected. A characterization of the microfibers revealed a large contribution of white/transparent fibers that primarily were composed of cellulose (67%) while a smaller fraction (10%) was polyester (PES), including polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The findings of white/transparent microplastic fibers in the wastewater suggest that a fraction of these fibers is directly related to the presence of the cellulose, viscose and PET wet wipes. Our results suggest that implementing either regulatory or behavioral measures to prevent wet wipes from entering the wastewater or using technical solutions to eliminate the discharge of wet wipes into the marine environment <em>via</em> wastewater, could significantly reduce the emission of plastics of all sizes from wastewater to the marine environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":72941,"journal":{"name":"Environmental science. Advances","volume":" 2","pages":" 223-234"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/va/d4va00233d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143107384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}