Ángeles Martinez-Orgániz

By Ángeles Martínez-Orgániz, Ricardo Herrera-Navarrete, Daniel Pineda-Mora, Viridiana Del Carmen-Niño and Rosa Iris Balbuena-Hernández

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive a wide variety of contaminants that cannot be eliminated or completely removed with current conventional methods. In this sense, the development and use of advanced technologies is a challenge in countries where wastewater sanitation is hardly a guarantee. However, the reuse of treated urban wastewater can function as an alternative to mitigate water pressure and, at the same time, guarantees water quality for potential reuse in agriculture, in the irrigation of landscape or urban green areas, but especially for aquifer recharge. Therefore, this chapter is focused on reviewing the current state of WWTPs in Mexico and the potential reuse of treated water.

Part of the book: Water Quality

By Ángeles Martínez-Orgániz, Ricardo Herrera-Navarrete and Gerson Lira-López

Microplastic pollution is a global environmental problem of anthropogenic origin that affects marine and coastal ecosystems. Microplastics are considered emerging pollutants of great concern. Worldwide, annual plastic production amounts to 280 million tons, and a significant fraction ends up in aquatic ecosystems. Plastic fragments smaller than 5  mm are distributed in the environment through various routes, including rainwater runoff, maritime activities, and wastewater discharges. As a result of their persistence and transportability, these pollutants have toxicological effects on numerous marine species, including birds, mammals, and turtles. In this context, this chapter analyzes the main sources, distribution, ecological impact, and mitigation strategies to prevent microplastic pollution in marine environments.

Part of the book: Latest Research in Contaminants of Emerging Concern