Comparative Analysis of constructed wetland treatment versus Standard Care in microplastic pollution

Freya Karlsson; E. Andersen; F. Olsen

doi:10.5281/zenodo.22812711

Authors

Freya Karlsson Department of Clinical Environmental Science, Ganges Academy of Environmental Science Author https://orcid.org/6570-7138-3208-6719
E. Andersen Division of Environmental Science, Yangtze Academy of Environmental Science Author https://orcid.org/5219-8348-7848-4864
F. Olsen Department of Environmental Science, Yukon Research Center for Environmental Technology Author https://orcid.org/1207-5236-2073-8743

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22812711

Keywords:

microplastic pollution, constructed wetland, wastewater treatment, removal efficiency, biosolids

Abstract

Graphical abstract

Background: Wastewater plants are a major point source of microplastic pollution, and constructed wetlands have been proposed as a lower-cost alternative or complement to conventional (standard care) treatment.

Objective: This review compares removal efficiency, retention mechanisms, and size-dependent selectivity between constructed wetlands and conventional wastewater treatment for microplastic pollution.

Methods: We synthesized field and pilot-scale studies quantifying microplastic removal across conventional treatment trains and constructed wetlands or related substrate-based systems, plus downstream-fate studies.

Findings: Conventional treatment removes microplastics mainly through settling, while wetlands achieve comparable removal through entrapment, preferentially capturing fibers conventional treatment handles poorly. Neither pathway destroys retained particles; both relocate them to sludge or sediment.

Conclusions: Wetlands offer removal comparable to standard care at lower cost; the strongest evidence-based use is as a polishing stage after conventional treatment, not as a full substitute.

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