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Microplastic pollution characteristics, transport, and control in urban stormwater runoff
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Every time it rains, tiny plastic bits from broken-down trash, car tires, and even air pollution get washed off streets and into our soil and waterways—this review pulls together what scientists currently know about how that happens. While some tools like rain gardens and wetlands can catch larger plastic pieces before they spread further, we still don't fully understand what happens to the smallest plastic fragments (nanoplastics) or how they might combine with other pollutants to cause harm, which matters since these tiny particles can end up in the water and food we consume.
Microplastics (MPs) have received increasing attention as emerging pollutants posing substantial ecological risks. Urban stormwater runoff is an important pathway by which MPs are transported into soil and aquatic environments, where they adversely affect organisms and ecosystem functions. This review synthesises the occurrence, sources, environmental behaviour, and control strategies of MPs in urban runoff. Research indicates that these particles primarily originate from discarded plastic fragmentation, tyre and road wear, and atmospheric deposition. Their abundance is significantly influenced by land-use types, antecedent dry periods, and rainfall intensity. The migration of MPs across media is a complex process governed by intrinsic particle properties (size and density) and extrinsic factors like topography and hydrology. Current management focuses on source reduction through street cleaning and interception by way of stormwater infrastructure and low-impact development facilities, such as bioretention systems and wetlands. While these methods effectively capture larger fragments, gaps remain regarding the long-term fate of nanoplastics and their synergistic toxicity with other pollutants. Future research should prioritise developing intelligent monitoring networks and standardised policies to enhance the resilience of urban ecosystems against MP pollution.
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Every time it rains, tiny plastic bits from tires, road markings, and litter wash off streets and into storm drains, and this review of over 50 studies finds these systems carry way more plastic pollution than we thought, sometimes six times more than what comes out of treated wastewater. The catch: while filters and green infrastructure like wetlands can catch larger plastic pieces, the smallest particles (under 100 micrometers) slip through, and those tiny fragments are the ones most likely to end up in waterways, soil, and potentially our food and water supply.
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This review examines microplastic sources, transport pathways, and entry mechanisms into urban stormwater systems, identifying atmospheric deposition, tire and road wear particles, and micro-litter as major contributors and highlighting the need for improved source control strategies.
Sources, transport, measurement and impact of nano and microplastics in urban watersheds
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This review examines what is known about nano and microplastic sources, transport pathways, transformations, and measurement challenges in urban watershed environments, identifying freshwater and terrestrial systems as critically underresearched compared to marine settings. The authors stress that most ocean plastic originates from land, making urban watershed research essential for source control.
Contributing to the assessment of the impact of urban activities on microplastic transport through air and runoff infiltration
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Researchers investigated the contribution of urban activities to microplastic transport through both airborne pathways and stormwater runoff infiltration, quantifying plastic particle fluxes in an urban watershed. The study found that road surfaces, construction materials, and tire wear were significant urban sources, with rainfall events mobilizing microplastics into both air and subsurface water.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.