The paper provides an investigation and understanding of the significance of\nvarious wastewater flows on microplastics retainment and emission to the\nenvironment. WWTPs and sewer overflows as an important pathway of microplastics\nto the environment are assessed by considering the removal of\nmicroplastics in WWTPs with different treatment processes and several sewer\noverflow types and their contribution to microplastic loads to recipients. On\nthe example of the Baltic Sea basin, presented results indicate a considerable\ndischarge of microplastic from WWTPs despite the relatively good overall\nremoval efficiency. Results show that the discharge of microplastics from\nsewer overflows can be in the same magnitude as from treated wastewater although\nthe total flow is much lower than that of treated wastewater. Sewer\noverflow events frequently occur and are expected to increase due to climate\nchange and urbanization, unless infrastructure is adapted. At the same time,\nsewer overflows are often neglected in conventional wastewater handling.
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