We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic pollution in salt marsh and urban tributary sediment cores of the River Thames estuary, UK: Spatial and temporal accumulation trends
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed sediment cores from a salt marsh and urban tributary of the Raritan River estuary to reconstruct the historical record of microplastic deposition. Microplastic concentrations increased dramatically from the mid-20th century, corresponding with rises in plastic production.
Microplastics in sediment cores from urban tidal tributaries, Barking and Bow Creek-London and salt marshes Swanscombe, Kent, and Rainham, Essex, Thames estuary (UK), were quantified by density separation and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. All eight tributary cores were dominated by low-density microplastics, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene with the greatest abundance (mean 360.0 ± 12.0 particles 100 g dwt (0-10 cm depth) observed furthest from the confluence with the Thames due to storm tank combined-sewer-overflow input. Salt marsh core microplastics were highest at Swanscombe (mean 267.1 ± 10.2 particles 100 g dwt at 0-10 cm depth) in the high-marsh vegetation zone. Marsh sediment radionuclide dating (Pb, Cs) suggested a presence of microplastics in the sediment since at least the late 1950s, with increasing abundance towards surface sediments. Tidal tributaries and salt marshes of the Thames act as natural filters, with salt marshes accumulating microplastics over time and tributaries acting as both stores and sources depending on individual site conditions and hydrodynamic variability.
More Papers Like This
A deposition baseline for microplastic particle distribution in an estuary
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers extracted and analyzed microplastics from archived sediment cores in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire, finding that microplastic accumulation increased over time in proportion to national plastic production trends. The sediment record provides direct evidence linking plastic pollution to the trajectory of industrial plastic production since the 1950s.
Salt marsh sediments act as sinks for microplastics and reveal effects of current and historical land use changes
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that salt marsh sediments along the New England coast act as traps for microplastics, with levels rising sharply in more urbanized watersheds — and sediment cores show this buildup has been accelerating since the 1950s. The findings highlight coastal wetlands as important archives for tracking the history of plastic pollution.
Microplastic Distribution at Different Sediment Depths in an Urban Estuary
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers sampled sediment cores from an urban estuary to map how microplastic particles are distributed at different depths over time. The study found that microplastic density varied with sediment depth, reflecting historical changes in plastic pollution and urban runoff.
Characterizing the temporal trends in the concentration and composition of microplastics over the 20th century to present in the Chesapeake Bay region
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed sediment cores from intertidal wetlands and estuaries in the Chesapeake Bay region to reconstruct microplastic concentration and composition trends since the early 20th century, finding that abundance closely tracks historical plastic production rates with shifts in polymer composition reflecting changes in industrial use.
Spatio-temporal trends in microplastic presence in the sediments of the River Thames catchment (UK)
AI summary Read the abstract
A 30-month study tracked microplastic concentrations in sediments across the River Thames catchment in the UK, finding an average of 61 items per kg dry weight with sub-millimeter polyethylene fragments dominating. Industrial land use near sampling sites was associated with elevated microplastic concentrations and distinct polymer types.
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.