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Sub-10 µm microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments pose significant ecological and health risks due to their mobility and potential to carry harmful microcontaminants. Our effluent analysis from a Hong Kong Sewage Treatment Works shows that traditional treatment often fails to effectively remove these MPs. These small-sized MPs are commonly neglected due to challenges in accurate quantification, analysis, and removal. This study introduces a nanobubble-assisted flotation process that enhances the removal efficiency of both regular and irregular small-sized MPs from wastewater. The proposed process outperforms the traditional flotation process by fostering a more effective interaction between bubbles and MPs, increasing removal rates of MPs from 1 µm to 10 µm by up to 12% and providing a total efficiency boost of up to 17% for various particle sizes. Improvements are attributed to enhanced collision and adhesion probabilities, hydrophobic interactions, as well as better floc flotation. Supported by empirical evidence, mathematical models, and Molecular Dynamics simulations, this research elucidates the nanoscale mechanisms at play. The findings confirm the nanobubble-assisted flotation technique as an innovative and practical approach to removing sub-10 µm MPs in water treatment processes. Sub-10 µm microplastic pose severe environmental risks. Here, authors introduce an advanced nanobubble assisted flotation technique that enhances microplastic removal, providing a promising solution for effective water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread occurrence of liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) in the environment has raised concerns about their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity (PBT). Here we review the lifecycle of environmental LCMs, focusing on their occurrences, emission sources, human exposure routes, and toxicity. Industrial emissions from Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) manufacturing and e-waste recycling are the primary point sources of LCMs. In addition, emissions from LCD products, air conditioning units, wastewater treatment plants, and landfills contribute to environmental occurrence of LCMs as secondary sources. Dietary routes were identified as the primary exposure pathways to humans. E-waste dismantling workers and infants/children are vulnerable populations to LCMs exposure. Exposure to LCMs has been shown to potentially induce oxidative stress, metabolic disorders, and endocrine disruption. Accumulation of LCMs in the brain and liver tissues of exposed animals highlights the need for toxicokinetic studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)