Characterisation of plastic microbeads in facial scrubs and their estimated emissions in Mainland China
Characterisation of plastic microbeads in facial scrubs and their estimated emissions in Mainland China
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DOI：
10.1016/j.watres.2017.05.053
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发表时间：
2017-10-01
期刊：
影响因子：
12.8
通讯作者：
Fok, Lincoln
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Cheung, Pui Kwan;Fok, Lincoln
塑料微珠通常作为去角质剂中的研磨剂添加到个人护理和化妆品（PCCP）中。据报道，这些微珠会污染水生环境，并且足够小，很容易被水生生物摄入。如果不提供污水处理，塑料微珠可以直接随生活污水释放到水生环境中，并且它们也可以由于不完全去除而从污水处理厂（WWTP）中逃逸。然而，中国从未估计过这两种来源的微珠排放量，也没有对塑料微珠在PCCP中的使用进行监管。因此，在本研究中，我们的目的是从直接排放和污水处理厂排放两个方面来估计中国大陆每年的微珠排放量。购买9个面部磨砂膏，提取磨砂膏中的微珠并计数。这些产品中的微珠密度范围为5219至50，391个颗粒/g，平均为20，860个颗粒/g。使用面部磨砂产生的直接排放量乃使用此平均密度数字、人口数据、面部磨砂使用率、污水处理率及若干保守假设估计。污水处理厂排放量的计算方法是将每年处理的污水量乘以处理后污水中的估计微珠密度。我们估计，平均每年有209.7万亿粒微珠（306.9吨）排放到中国内地的水生环境中。超过80%的排放来自污水处理厂的不完全清除，其余20%来自直接排放。虽然排放的微珠重量仅占中国输入海洋的塑料垃圾的约0.03%，但排放的微珠数量远远超过了此前对世界海面塑料垃圾（>330 μ m）的估计。需要立即采取行动，防止塑料微珠进入水生环境。(C)2017爱思唯尔有限公司版权所有
Plastic microbeads are often added to personal care and cosmetic products (PCCPs) as an abrasive agent in exfoliants. These beads have been reported to contaminate the aquatic environment and are sufficiently small to be readily ingested by aquatic organisms. Plastic microbeads can be directly released into the aquatic environment with domestic sewage if no sewage treatment is provided, and they can also escape from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) because of incomplete removal. However, the emissions of microbeads from these two sources have never been estimated for China, and no regulation has been imposed on the use of plastic microbeads in PCCPs. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to estimate the annual microbead emissions in Mainland China from both direct emissions and WWTP emissions. Nine facial scrubs were purchased, and the microbeads in the scrubs were extracted and enumerated. The microbead density in those products ranged from 5219 to 50,391 particles/g, with an average of 20,860 particlesig. Direct emissions arising from the use of facial scrubs were estimated using this average density number, population data, facial scrub usage rate, sewage treatment rate, and a few conservative assumptions. WWTP emissions were calculated by multiplying the annual treated sewage volume and estimated microbead density in treated sewage. We estimated that, on average, 209.7 trillion microbeads (306.9 tonnes) are emitted into the aquatic environment in Mainland China every year. More than 80% of the emissions originate from incomplete removal in WWTPs, and the remaining 20% are derived from direct emissions. Although the weight of the emitted microbeads only accounts for approximately 0.03% of the plastic waste input into the ocean from China, the number of microbeads emitted far exceeds the previous estimate of plastic debris (>330 mu m) on the world's sea surface. Immediate actions are required to prevent plastic microbeads from entering the aquatic environment. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.