ReviewMolecules (Basel, Switzerland)2026
Beyond Removal: A Critical Review of Microplastic Mass Flux, In-Plant Transformation, and Elimination in WWTPs.
Review in Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Spatial patterns and associations between microplastics and heavy metals in wastewater effluents of Pakistan's twin cities: insights from structural equation modeling.RSC advances · 2026Article
- Microbial and Insect Gut-Mediated Polystyrene Microplastic Degradation for Environmental Remediation Applications.Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Distribution, Polymer Composition, and Exposure Risks of Microplastics in Bottled and Tap Water Distribution.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) persist in wastewater treatment systems owing to their durability and mobility. As critical interception points, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive MPs from diverse domestic and industrial sources. This review synthesizes peer-reviewed studies (2009-2026) to evaluate MP mass flux, in-plant transformation, and elimination across primary, secondary, and tertiary stages. While conventional processes typically remove 60-90% of MPs, advanced tertiary technologies, such as membrane bioreactors and rapid sand filtration, can achieve efficiencies exceeding 95%. The fate of MPs is governed by density-driven settling and biological aggregation; however, the significant accumulation of MPs in sewage sludge represents a critical pathway for environmental re-entry. This review highlights key knowledge gaps, including inconsistent analytical methodologies, evidence of in-plant fragmentation generating nanoplastics (NPs), and uncertainties regarding full-scale mass flows. Furthermore, the review synthesizes mass flux data to clarify the partitioning of MPs between the effluent and sludge, identifying biosolids as a primary sink. The review concludes by proposing a transition from physical separation to elimination technologies (e.g., AOPs), alongside standardized monitoring and regulatory frameworks, to achieve sustainable reductions in MP emissions.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.