Pollution by anthropogenic microfibers in North-West Mediterranean Sea and efficiency of microfiber removal by a wastewater treatment plant

The widespread pollution from the release of microfibers is an emerging concern as they are a potential threat to environment. Their identification in samples terms quantity and pathways remain challenge contamination can be major source error. A systematic study synthetic (MFs) has been carried out different environmental compartments urban area surface waters northwestern Mediterranean. quantity, size type polymer MFs were recorded air, waste water domestic washing machine, at inlet outlet Haliotis wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) Nice (Provence Alpes Côte-d'Azur, France) variety coastal offshore areas. results showed that released by clothes during (on average 13 × 106 per m3) important emitter microplastics. Despite its high removal efficiency (87.5% 98.5%) Haliotis, large number MFs, estimated 4.3 billion, enter marine environment daily plant. attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) characterization raw materials 14 50% fibers synthetic, mostly polyester polyamide, remaining 35 72% being natural polymers (cotton, wool) or manufactured processing (especially cellulose). found all studied appear with concentrations varying 2.6 103 3.70 104 m?3. sources multiple, laundry discharges WWTP atmospheric transport among main pathways.