Negrete Velasco Angel, Borboën Delphine, Ramseier Gentile Stéphan, Zimmermann Stéphane, Ramaciotti Pascal, Perdaems Pauline, Jeanneret Blaise, Ramirez Arenas Lina, Le Coustumer Philippe, Stoll Serge
Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva, Faculty of Science, Uni Carl Vogt, Group of Environmental Physical Chemistry, 66, boulevard Carl-Vogt, Geneva 4, CH-1211, Switzerland.
Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva, Faculty of Science, Uni Carl Vogt, Group of Environmental Physical Chemistry, 66, boulevard Carl-Vogt, Geneva 4, CH-1211, Switzerland; SIG, Industrial Boards of Geneva, Switzerland.
Chemosphere. 2025 Sep;385:144558. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144558. Epub 2025 Jul 9.
Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly detected in aquatic environments and are a growing concern due to their persistence, mobility, and potential risks to ecosystems and human health. This study aims to investigate the presence of MPs (>20 μm) across the urban water cycle of Geneva (Switzerland). The scope of the assessment includes large water volumes (50-2000 L) of raw water sources (groundwater and surface water), drinking water treatment, water supply network, and effluents of three wastewater treatment plants. MPs concentrations, size distributions, and chemical compositions were determined across these interconnected systems. Sampling and analysis followed a strict quality assurance protocol aligned with current MP analysis guidelines and standards. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterise MPs. Geneva's main conventional drinking water treatment plant (serving approximately 500,000 consumers) showed high removal efficiency, reducing MPs concentrations from 640 ± 292 MP/m in raw water to 10 ± 6 MP/m after treatment (including coagulation, sand filtration, ozonation and granular activated carbon filtration), demonstrating a removal efficiency of 97 ± 3 %. Groundwater samples showed low concentration of MPs (8 ± 7 MP/m). However, the drinking water supply network (DWSN) contributed to an increase of MPs concentration, with values equal to 27 ± 37 MP/m in the eastern section and 23 ± 19 MP/m in the western section. Effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) exhibited the highest concentrations, averaging 5829 ± 5108 MP/m. This study highlights the importance of full-cycle monitoring and supports the need for improved mitigation strategies across all stages of the urban water cycle.
微塑料（MPs）在水生环境中越来越多地被检测到，由于其持久性、流动性以及对生态系统和人类健康的潜在风险，日益受到关注。本研究旨在调查瑞士日内瓦城市水循环中大于20微米的微塑料的存在情况。评估范围包括大量原水水源（地下水和地表水）、饮用水处理、供水网络以及三个污水处理厂的废水，体积为50至2000升。在这些相互关联的系统中测定了微塑料的浓度、尺寸分布和化学成分。采样和分析遵循与当前微塑料分析指南和标准一致的严格质量保证协议。采用傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）对微塑料进行表征。日内瓦主要的传统饮用水处理厂（为约50万消费者服务）显示出较高的去除效率，将原水中微塑料的浓度从640±292个/立方米降低到处理后（包括混凝、砂滤、臭氧化和颗粒活性炭过滤）的10±6个/立方米，去除效率为97±3%。地下水样本显示微塑料浓度较低（8±7个/立方米）。然而，饮用水供应网络导致微塑料浓度增加，东部地区的值为27±37个/立方米，西部地区为23±19个/立方米。污水处理厂的废水浓度最高，平均为5829±5108个/立方米。本研究强调了全周期监测的重要性，并支持在城市水循环的所有阶段改进缓解策略的必要性。
