Microplastics detection and characterisation in the urban water cycle of Geneva, Switzerland: Assessing the supply network impacts

Article Article scientifique Article Microplastics detection and characterisation in the urban water cycle of Geneva, Switzerland: Assessing the supply network impacts eng 2025-07-09 2025-09 author Negrete Velasco Angel De Jésus 0000-0001-5823-6161 Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva, Faculty of Science, Uni Carl Vogt, Group of Environmental Physical Chemistry, 66, boulevard Carl-Vogt, Geneva 4, CH-1211, Switzerland. Electronic address: angel.negretevelasco@unige.ch. 850704 Forel Communs (FOREL) author Borboen Delphine Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva, Faculty of Science, Uni Carl Vogt, Group of Environmental Physical Chemistry, 66, boulevard Carl-Vogt, Geneva 4, CH-1211, Switzerland; SIG, Industrial Boards of Geneva, Switzerland. 853326 author Ramseier Gentile Stéphan SIG, Industrial Boards of Geneva, Switzerland. author Zimmermann Stéphane SIG, Industrial Boards of Geneva, Switzerland. author Ramaciotti Pascal SIG, Industrial Boards of Geneva, Switzerland. author Perdaems Pauline SIG, Industrial Boards of Geneva, Switzerland. author Jeanneret Philippe Blaise SIG, Industrial Boards of Geneva, Switzerland. 32513 author Ramirez Arenas Lina Marcela SIG, Industrial Boards of Geneva, Switzerland. 688754 author Le Coustumer Philippe EA CNRS Géoressources & Environnement, Université Bordeaux Montaigne, 1 Allée F. Daguin, F-3607, Pessac, France; CNRS-INRA-Université de Bordeaux UMS 3420, Bordeaux Imaging Center, 146 rue Léo Saignat, CS 61292, F-33076, Bordeaux, France. author Stoll Serge 0000-0003-3158-4208 Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva, Faculty of Science, Uni Carl Vogt, Group of Environmental Physical Chemistry, 66, boulevard Carl-Vogt, Geneva 4, CH-1211, Switzerland. Electronic address: serge.stoll@unige.ch. 29148 Forel Communs (FOREL) 1-13 144558 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144558 40639156 0045-6535 https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0045653525005028 Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly detected in aquatic environments and are a growing concern due to their persistence, mobility, and potential risks to ecosystems and human health. This study aims to investigate the presence of MPs (>20 μm) across the urban water cycle of Geneva (Switzerland). The scope of the assessment includes large water volumes (50-2000 L) of raw water sources (groundwater and surface water), drinking water treatment, water supply network, and effluents of three wastewater treatment plants. MPs concentrations, size distributions, and chemical compositions were determined across these interconnected systems. Sampling and analysis followed a strict quality assurance protocol aligned with current MP analysis guidelines and standards. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterise MPs. Geneva's main conventional drinking water treatment plant (serving approximately 500,000 consumers) showed high removal efficiency, reducing MPs concentrations from 640 ± 292 MP/m3 in raw water to 10 ± 6 MP/m3 after treatment (including coagulation, sand filtration, ozonation and granular activated carbon filtration), demonstrating a removal efficiency of 97 ± 3 %. Groundwater samples showed low concentration of MPs (8 ± 7 MP/m3 ). However, the drinking water supply network (DWSN) contributed to an increase of MPs concentration, with values equal to 27 ± 37 MP/m3 in the eastern section and 23 ± 19 MP/m3 in the western section. Effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) exhibited the highest concentrations, averaging 5829 ± 5108 MP/m3 . This study highlights the importance of full-cycle monitoring and supports the need for improved mitigation strategies across all stages of the urban water cycle. Drinking water supply network Drinking water treatment Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy Groundwater Microplastics Urban water cycle Wastewater Dewey 550 41 Département F.-A. Forel des sciences de l'environnement et de l'eau 153 false 755 Environmental Physical Chemistry Chemosphere 385 1d7fb456-18a8-4d7a-8a00-cd5c12e05bd2 Article (Published version) Public 1-s2.0-S0045653525005028-main.pdf 5779325 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 57ee24af6ca2bdf9a40776bf83ffc1f42961abfc9969dd081e8fced8ca959788 Vignette Public 1-s2.0-S0045653525005028-ga1_lrg.jpg 214399 image/png openAccess Faculté des sciences / Section des sciences de la Terre et de l'Environnement / Département F.-A. Forel des sciences de l'environnement et de l'eau

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Microplastics detection and characterisation in the urban water cycle of Geneva, Switzerland: Assessing the supply network impacts	Chemosphere			2025	129	33

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Borboen, Delphine