Polyacrylic acid-based nanoplastics used in cosmetics : a study of biodegradability and effects on heterotrophic and nitrifying microorganisms in the activated sludge

Mederer, Bernardette (author), Novak, Janja (author), Rozman, Ula (author), Škrlep, Luka (author), Bundschuh, Mirco (author), Kalčíková, Gabriela (author)

Nanoplastics, commonly used in cosmetics, enter wastewater systems and interact with activated sludge, yet their effects on microorganisms, essential for wastewater treatment, remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of polyacrylic acid-based nanoplastics (PANPs) on microorganisms in activated sludge. The PANPs were characterized in terms of their material composition, size, zeta potential, and additive content. Acute (30 min) and prolonged (up to 6 h) toxicity tests were performed to evaluate negative effects on heterotrophic and nitrifying microorganisms in activated sludge. In addition, ready and inherent biodegradability tests were performed to assess their degradation in the environment and within wastewater treatment plants, respectively. The results showed a significant acute inhibition of heterotrophic and nitrifying activity (up to 55 and 72%, respectively) at the highest concentration tested (100 mg/L, 30 min), primarily attributed to the presence of 1-dodecanol detected in the PANPs. This effect decreased with prolonged exposure, likely due to the volatilization of 1-dodecanol. Nevertheless, the PANPs were found to be non-biodegradable in both the ready and inherent biodegradability tests. Although PANPs do not appear to pose a long-term threat to the activated sludge, their persistence in the environment raises concerns about possible accumulation.

• Language: English
• Keywords: additives, cosmetics, microbial activity, nanoparticles, wastewater treatment, water-soluble polymer
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.03.2025
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 626-638
• Numbering: Vol. 91, iss. 5
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-168327
• UDC: 504.5:678.744.32:620.3
• ISSN on article: 0273-1223
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2025.034
• COBISS.SI-ID: 231923459
• Publication date in RUL: 09.04.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Water science and technology
• Shortened title: Water sci. technol.
• Publisher: IWA Publishing
• ISSN: 0273-1223
• COBISS.SI-ID: 26617600

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
• Description: A creative commons license that bans commercial use, but the users don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: aditivi, kozmetika, mikrobna aktivnost, nanodelci, čiščenje odpadne vode, vodotopni polimeri