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Microplastics pollution in urban freshwater sediments: A descriptive assessment of land-use categories
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A study of stormwater retention ponds across different urban land uses in an unspecified city found that microplastic concentrations in pond sediments varied by land type, with levels linked to the surrounding activities such as residential, educational, and mixed-use development. Using Nile red fluorescence staining for identification, the research maps how urban stormwater systems accumulate microplastics and highlights these ponds as overlooked pollution hotspots. Understanding which land uses drive the most contamination can help target urban plastic management interventions.
Microplastics (MPs) contamination is a pressing environmental concern due to its widespread presence in aquatic ecosystems and potential adverse effects. Microplastic (MP) abundance is highly variable and may be influenced by urban land-use types. However, studies examining the relationship between land use and source-specific MP distribution in urban freshwater systems, particularly stormwater retention (SWR) ponds, remain limited, representing an important research gap for urban stormwater management and flood control practices. Therefore, this study investigated the distribution of microplastics in pond sediments and assessed how different urban land-use types (residential, educational, and mixed-use areas) contribute to MP pollution in SWR pond sediments. MPs were identified using Nile Red staining and fluorescence microscopy, enabling detection of MPs ranging from 25 to 2000 μm. MPs were detected in all sediment samples, with an average abundance of 521.25 ± 302.46 items/kg dry sediment. Fragments and fibers were the most prevalent MP types, comprising 75 % of total MPs, with a dominant size range of 75-300 μm. Sediments from predominantly educational and residential catchments exhibited higher MP pollution levels than mixed-use areas; however, no statistically significant correlation was observed between land-use type and MP abundance. These findings demonstrate that urban SWR ponds can act as effective sinks for MPs from the urban environment.
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