Abstract：
Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging pollutant that can be detected in all ecosystems, especially aquatic ecosystems. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important point sources of MP release into the sea. In this study, the characteristics of MPs in wastewater and sludge samples taken from different units of WWTP in Bursa-Gemlik district for 12 months were investigated. Wastewater and sludge samples collected from 7 different points were classified as size, shape, color, and counted. The amount of MP in the influent and effluent of the WWTP, respectively; 107.1 ± 40.2 MP/L and 4.1 ± 1.1 MP/L. Although the MP removal efficiency of the WWTP is 96.17 %, approximately 74,825,000 MP is discharged into the Marmara Sea every day. The amount of MP in the sludge is 14.3 ± 7.1 MP/g. The amount of MP accumulated in 22tons of waste sludge formed daily in WWTP was calculated as 314,600,000 MP, and the annual accumulated amount was calculated as approximately 1.15 × 1011 MP. The MPs in the WWTP were mainly 1-0.5 mm in size. Fibers were the dominant MP shape in both the wastewater and sludge samples. Black and transparent were the dominant MP colors. Seven different polymer types of MPs were detected, which were mainly types of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate. Despite the high removal efficiency in the investigated WWTP, it has been shown that it acts as an important source of MPs to the sea ecosystem due to the high discharge rates.
摘要：
微塑料（MPs）是一种新兴的污染物，可以在所有生态系统中检测到，尤其是水生生态系统。废水处理厂（WWTP）是MP释放入海的重要点源。在这项研究中,研究了Bursa-Gemlik区污水处理厂不同单位12个月的废水和污泥样品中的MPs特征。从7个不同点收集的废水和污泥样品被分类为大小，形状,颜色,和计数。污水处理厂进水和出水中的MP量，分别为107.1±40.2MP/L和4.1±1.1MP/L。虽然污水处理厂的MP去除效率为96.17%，每天约有74,825,000MP排入马尔马拉海。污泥中MP的量为14.3±7.1MP/g。污水处理厂每天形成的22吨废污泥中累积的MP量为314,600,000MP，年累计金额约为1.15×1011MP。污水处理厂中的MP主要大小为1-0.5mm。在废水和污泥样品中，纤维是主要的MP形状。黑色和透明是MP的主要颜色。检测到七种不同聚合物类型的MPs，主要是聚乙烯，聚丙烯,和聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯。尽管所研究的污水处理厂的去除效率高，研究表明，由于排放率高，它是海洋生态系统中MP的重要来源。
