Catalogue of technologies to address the risks of contamination of water bodies with plastics and microplastics

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dc.creatorNikiema, Josiane
dc.creatorAsiedu, Zipporah
dc.creatorMateo-Sagasta, Javier
dc.creatorSaad, Dalia
dc.creatorLamizana, B.
dc.date2020-12-16
dc.date2020-12-17T06:42:24Z
dc.date2020-12-17T06:42:24Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T18:38:20Z
dc.descriptionPlastic 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.
dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/110545
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/161438
dc.languageen
dc.publisherUnited Nations Environment Programme
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceNikiema, 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.
dc.subjectwastewater treatment
dc.subjecttechnology
dc.subjectmicroplastics
dc.subjectcontamination
dc.subjecttreatment plants
dc.subjectwater pollution
dc.subjectplastics
dc.subjectrisk
dc.subjectwaste management
dc.subjectrecycling
dc.subjectdrinking water treatment
dc.subjectsewage sludge
dc.subjectlandfill leachates
dc.subjectwaste incineration
dc.subjectindustrial wastewater
dc.subjecteffluents
dc.subjectfiltration
dc.subjectsea pollution
dc.subjectwetlands
dc.subjectcost benefit analysis
dc.subjectmaintenance
dc.subjectdeveloping countries
dc.subjectgender
dc.subjectwomen
dc.subjectpolicies
dc.subjectinvestment
dc.titleCatalogue of technologies to address the risks of contamination of water bodies with plastics and microplastics
dc.typeReport

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Instituto Internacional para el Manejo del Agua (IWMI)