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The theoretical role of the wind in aerosolising microplastics and nanoplastics from coastal combined sewer overflows
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Researchers modeled the theoretical potential for onshore winds to aerosolize microplastics and nanoplastics from combined sewer overflow discharge points into coastal air, using two years of overflow event data to estimate the size and frequency of potential airborne microplastic plumes over populated areas.
Inhaled microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) have shown bio-persistence in the body, with concerning implications for human health. Airborne MNPs primarily originate from terrestrial sources, but sea air may contribute when onshore 'aerosolising' winds coincide with high concentrations of MNPs in surface waters. From the thousands of cities worldwide with Combined Sewer Overflows, millions to billions of MNPs can be discharged daily into rivers, estuaries, and the sea. To assess the possible links between water pollution and air quality, we analysed two years of Combined Sewer Overflows (spills) off Plymouth, UK, alongside same-day and long-term meteorological and satellite data. Winds exceeding 6.5 m/s were applied as the theoretical threshold for marine aerosol production at the sea surface. From 2022 to 2023, sewer spills into Plymouth Sound coincided with onshore aerosolising winds for a minimum of 178 days. Specifically, MNPs may have been stripped from coastal spills and blown back inland for over 1,586 hours, amounting to at least 10% of the 2-year period. Surprisingly, rainfall was too weakly correlated with spills to be a predictor, with little to no precipitation for 18% of sewer overflow events overall. In the satellite data, river plumes coincident with spills remained detectable ~ 10 km offshore, and we observed a significant degradation in winter water clarity over the past decade. Given the global footprint of outdated sewage infrastructure, our findings suggest that coastal spills-when combined with onshore aerosolising winds-may serve as an overlooked source of airborne MNPs. To better understand potential exposure pathways, it is essential that future scientific studies integrate air quality monitoring with assessments of coastal water quality.
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A Methodology for the Estimation of Microplastic Concentration in Relation to the Meteorological Forcing and WWTPs Effluents in Urban Coastal Areas
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Researchers developed a hydrodynamic modeling approach to estimate how microplastics from wastewater treatment plant effluents are distributed along an urban coastline in Greece, accounting for tides and weather. The methodology offers a way to predict microplastic hotspots in coastal waters and could inform better management of treatment plant discharges.
Impacts of wind forcing on microplastics kinematic in a sensitive water area
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Researchers modeled how wind forcing affects the movement and distribution of microplastics in a sensitive coastal water area, finding that wind-driven surface currents are a dominant control on where microplastics accumulate. The model predicts substantial wind-driven concentration at specific coastal zones.
Microplastics in Combined Sewer Overflows: An Experimental Study
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Researchers investigated microplastic concentrations and characteristics in combined sewer overflow events through experimental study, finding that overflow discharges transport significant quantities of microplastic particles directly to surface waters, bypassing wastewater treatment and representing a major urban microplastic pathway.
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