We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
The Full Multi: An Open-Source, Multispecies, Multisize, Multimedia Framework for Modelling the Fate of Plastic Particles in Aquatic Systems
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in the surface water and fish of a river designated as a protected salmon spawning habitat, finding particle concentrations and fish ingestion levels that exceeded proposed threshold values. The study raises specific concerns about microplastic exposure effects on salmon during critical life history stages in river environments used for reproduction.
We present an open-source modelling framework to explore environmental fate and transport of plastic particles in aquatic systems. The “Full Multi” models 1) fragmentation of plastic into a predefined set of size classes, 2) speciation of plastic particles between pristine, heteroaggregated, biofouled, and biofouled & heteroaggregated species, 3) dynamic vertical exchange between water layers and sediment of a freshwater system, and 4) horizontal particle transport by eddy diffusion and advective flow. The Full Multi framework relates emission rates and intrinsic properties of plastic particles and variable environmental system properties, to environmental exposure concentrations. The model can be applied to analyse scenarios with different process descriptions, plastic types, emission routes and environmental parameters for hypothesis generation, to identify dominant fate processes, and in hazard and risk assessment. Here, we illustrate the framework by modelling plastic particles with a range of densities in a generic flowing river system.
More Papers Like This
The Full Multi: An open-source framework for modelling the transport and fate of nano- and microplastics in aquatic systems
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers released an open-source computer model called "Full Multi" that simulates how nano- and microplastics of different sizes and densities fragment, clump with particles, get coated by organisms, and move through rivers and lakes over time. The freely available framework helps scientists and regulators predict microplastic concentrations in aquatic environments under various pollution scenarios.
A multimedia model to estimate the environmental fate of microplastic particles
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed SimpleBox4Plastic (SB4P), the first mathematical model capable of predicting how nano- and microplastics move through and accumulate across air, water, sediment, and soil simultaneously, accounting for processes like particle clumping, fragmentation, and attachment to natural materials. While concentration predictions carry uncertainty, the model provides a practical screening tool for assessing environmental exposure to microplastics where direct measurements are unavailable.
Coupling fragmentation to a size-selective sedimentation model can quantify the long-term fate of buoyant plastics in the ocean
AI summary Read the abstract
A size-selective sedimentation model was coupled with fragmentation dynamics to simulate how large plastic items break down and settle in aquatic environments over time. The coupled model advances predictions of microplastic size distributions and spatial accumulation patterns in rivers and oceans.
A comparative study of numerical modelling for plastic dispersal and fate in aquatic environments
AI summary Read the abstract
This study reviewed and compared different numerical modeling approaches used to simulate how plastic particles disperse and accumulate in aquatic environments, from rivers to the ocean. The most widely used Lagrangian particle-tracking framework was compared to other approaches in terms of accuracy, computational cost, and applicability to different scenarios. The review provides guidance for researchers and managers on selecting the most appropriate model for different plastic pollution questions.
Modeling the Fate and Transport of Plastic Debris in Freshwaters: Review and Guidance
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed current mathematical models for tracking how plastic debris — including microplastics and nanoplastics — moves through freshwater environments, finding that while many principles from existing particle models apply, plastic's unique combination of high persistence, low density, and extreme size range makes its behavior far more varied and complex to predict.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.