Water pollution by plastics and microplastics: a review of technical solutions from source to sea

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dc.creatorNikiema, Josiane
dc.creatorMateo-Sagasta, Javier
dc.creatorAsiedu, Zipporah
dc.creatorSaad, Dalia
dc.creatorLamizana, B.
dc.date2020-12-16
dc.date2020-12-17T06:35:22Z
dc.date2020-12-17T06:35:22Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T18:37:54Z
dc.descriptionPlastic and microplastic pollution in aquatic environments is driven by rising global plastic production and inadequate waste management. These pollutants originate from diverse sources including microbeads, synthetic textiles, and degraded larger plastics and enter water bodies via wastewater, runoff, and sludge application. They pose physical, chemical, and biological risks, though the full extent of human health impacts remains unclear. Effective management requires interventions along the entire pollution pathway. Upstream measures include mechanical and chemical recycling, product redesign, and regulatory tools such as bans and effluent standards, supported by public awareness and incentives. In urban environments, macroplastic interception through booms, gully pots, and retention ponds helps to reduce flow into open waters. Municipal wastewater treatment plants can remove over 99% of microplastics, though most accumulate in sewage sludge, creating a secondary pollution risk. Industrial wastewater treatment, particularly in textile production, also offers targeted removal but lacks standardization. Where upstream controls are insufficient, downstream solutions like constructed wetlands, debris sweepers, and advanced filtration provide additional barriers. The report emphasizes the need for gender-sensitive approaches, noting the unequal burden on women and informal workers, and calls for context-specific, integrated strategies that align environmental goals with social equity and institutional capacity.
dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/110544
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/161264
dc.languageen
dc.publisherUnited Nations Environment Programme
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceNikiema, Josiane; Mateo-Sagasta, Javier; Asiedu, Zipporah; Saad, Dalia; Lamizana, B. 2020. Water pollution by plastics and microplastics: a review of technical solutions from source to sea. Nairobi, Kenya: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 112p.
dc.subjectwater pollution
dc.subjectmicroplastics
dc.subjectwaste management
dc.subjectsea pollution
dc.subjectwastewater
dc.subjecttreatment
dc.subjecttechnology
dc.subjectplastics
dc.subjectfreshwater pollution
dc.subjectcontamination
dc.subjectwater quality
dc.subjecttreatment plants
dc.subjectrecycling
dc.subjectdrinking water treatment
dc.subjectindustrial wastewater
dc.subjectcosts
dc.subjectmunicipal wastewater
dc.subjectsolid wastes
dc.subjectsewage sludge
dc.subjectlandfill leachates
dc.subjectwaste incineration
dc.subjectrisk
dc.subjectpublic health
dc.subjecthealth hazards
dc.subjectdeveloping countries
dc.subjectpolicies
dc.subjectenergy recovery
dc.subjectwetlands
dc.titleWater pollution by plastics and microplastics: a review of technical solutions from source to sea
dc.typeReport

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Instituto Internacional para el Manejo del Agua (IWMI)