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Catchment characteristics and land-use influence on microplastics distribution in freshwater sediments
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A study of three urban creeks in Brisbane, Australia found microplastic levels up to 4,400 particles per kilogram of sediment, with concentrations highest at downstream and estuary sites in urbanized zones. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and acrylic (PMMA) were the dominant plastic types, pointing to consumer products and stormwater runoff as key local pollution sources.
This study examines microplastic contamination in freshwater sediments from three urban creeks in Brisbane, Australia. A dual-density extraction method, validated by recovery experiment (85-100%), was used to extract microplastics, followed by identification via light microscope, micro- FTIR and SEM. Kedron Brook showed the highest median abundance (4400 items/kg), followed by Bulimba Creek (4100 items/kg) and Enoggera Creek (2800 items/kg). Site-wise assessment revealed three distinct spatial patterns among the creeks, likely reflecting differences in runoff dynamics, surrounding anthropogenic activities, catchment elevation profile, and land-use. Microplastics abundances were higher at downstream and estuarine sites, particularly within urbanised zones. Polymer analysis identified polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as the most dominant types. Linear mixed-effects modelling identified creek system (p = 0.018) and sampling round (p = 0.003) as significant predictors of microplastic abundance, while between-site variability was reflected by a site-level random-effect variance of 0.0116. Multivariate analyses revealed distinct land-use associations, with residential and commercial land-uses significantly associated with PP and polyester, and industrial land-use associated with PP, polystyrene (PS), and polyester, whereas natural land-use showed no significant associations with any polymer type. Overall, urban land-use types exerted a stronger influence compared to natural land-use on microplastic distribution in freshwater sediments.
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Researchers found that microplastic presence, alongside catchment urbanization and traffic activity, is associated with elevated heavy metal concentrations — particularly lead — in Brisbane River sediments, suggesting microplastics act as co-contaminants and vectors for metal pollution in urban waterways.
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Researchers found significantly higher microplastic abundance and polymer diversity in sediments from the urbanized Patawalonga creek compared to less urbanized sites near Adelaide, Australia, with most detected microplastics derived from recyclable products, indicating inadequate recycling as a key pollution driver.
Microplastic emission characteristics of stormwater runoff in an urban area: Intra-event variability and influencing factors
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Researchers found that stormwater runoff from both industrial and residential urban catchments contained substantial microplastics (54–639 particles per liter), with polypropylene and polyethylene dominating, and that microplastic concentrations peaked early in rain events following longer dry periods.
Characterization of microplastics accumulated in sediments of stormwater detention basins, in relation to the land use patterns in the contributing catchment.
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Microplastics in stormwater detention basin sediments were characterized and linked to surrounding land use, with roads and residential areas contributing the highest concentrations and most diverse plastic types.
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