Keywords
microplastics (MP)
nanoplastics (NP)
observation list of priority substances
pollutant of emerging concern
polyester
polypropylene
polyethylene
polystyrene
ABS
polyamide
TED-GC-MS
TGA-FTIR
How to Cite
Abstract
In the recently approved spanish RD 3/2023 on human consumption water (text transposed from the EU Directive 2020/2184) the so-called observation list is included in its article 19: there are the emerging concern pollutants taking into account their potential health risk for humans. More specifically, in Annex IV of the RD review, section 4, the national observation list is published with the reference to 17b−stradiol, nonilphenol, azithromycin and diclofenac; likewise, it is literally indicated that “microplastics will be included in the list when the European Commission adopts a standardized methodology to measure microplastics in drinking water”. For above, this article will review the position on the subject published by the EU in September 2022 from the agency that deals with this type of issues, the Common Research Center of the European Commission, known by its English acronym JRC. At the same time, we will also refer the situation in Spain. In this way, the main types of MP detected were polyester (PES), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), while polystyrene, ABS and polyamide were also detected. At the same time, results at a DWTP were reduced >93% from raw water (0.96 MP/L) after use of sand filtration, granular actived carbon, and reverse osmosis. Finally, concentration found in drinking water was very low, between 0 and 0.05 MP/L, with an average of 0.01 MP/L.
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