Free, but not microplastic-free, drinking water from outdoor refill kiosks: A challenge and a wake-up call for urban management. (15th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shruti, V.C.; Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy; Pérez-Guevara, Fermín; Roy, Priyadarsi D.; Elizalde-Martínez, I.
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 309(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09-15
• Subjects: Microplastics -- Drinking water -- Human health -- Exposure -- Fiber -- ATR-FTIR; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119800
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Free refill drinking water kiosks are an essential sustainable water supply system for people in metropolitan areas worldwide. Despite their importance in urban settings, the impact of microplastic contamination remains elusive. Here, we investigated the occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in drinking-water samples collected from 22 self-distributed refill kiosks located in 14 multiuse urban parks spread across nine municipalities in Mexico City (Mexico). The results showed that microplastics were detected in all the samples, with an overall mean concentration of 74.18 ± 48.76 microplastics L −1 . The abundance of microplastics was significantly different between sampled kiosks, ranging from 23 ± 11.31 to 202 ± 28.39 microplastics L −1 . There were more fibrous microplastics (88%) than fragments (9%) and films (3%), with the majority (56%) being <200 μm in length. They were predominantly transparent (85%), with only a few being colored (15%; blue, red, green, and brown). Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy further revealed microplastics of various polymer types, including polyvinyl alcohol, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, acrylic, alkyd resin, and viscose. Based on our findings, drinking water from urban refill kiosks exposes children more than adults to microplastics. Furthermore, the steps that should be taken at urban refill kiosks to prevent microplastic pollution while offering recreational services to people have been highlighted. Therefore, this first study serves as a wake-up call to urban water management to improve the safety of water from emerging pollutants like microplastics in the infrastructure of refill kiosks. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Microplastics (MPs) were detected in free drinking water from outdoor urban kiosks. MPs concentration ranged from 23 ± 11.31 to 202 ± 28.39 L -1 . Fiber-shaped MPs were the most prevalent. 56% of the MPs identified were between 20 and 200 μm in size. Polyvinyl alcohol, viscose, and polypropylene made up the majority of the MPs.