Microplastics in Kuwait’s Wastewater Streams

The wastewater stream is the most significant contributor of microplastics (MPs) to environment. There are five treatment plants (WWTPs) in Kuwait. This baseline study provides an overview MP removal three major WWTPs Kuwait that treat some 81.31% produced. Sulabiya WWTP was efficient removal, followed by Kabd and Umm Al-Haiman WWTPs. efficiency very high for with average 2.5 L−1 treated effluent comparable Australia, United States, Europe. standard methodology sample collection, preparation, identification using microscopic examination micro-Raman spectrometry followed. Over 94.5 billion MPs enter daily; 92.3 retained sludge, while 2.2 passed into environment due use effluent. influent, effluent, sludge inventories ranged between 119 230 L−1, 1 12 72 103 10 g−1 respectively. fiber dominant shape, white, transparent, black were prevalent colors. Currently, not used any terrestrial or agricultural application; however, routinely many countries as a soil additive farms. Using water irrigation leads dissemination It necessary assess how far these move profile if they can contaminate shallow aquifers. observation retention empirical, matrixes agriculture likely raise issue food safety.