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Lead levels and abundance of microplastics in surface water and sediment along a rural–urban river gradient
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Researchers sampled water and sediment along a rural-to-urban river and found microplastics at every location, with concentrations decreasing downstream in surface water but not following a clear pattern in sediment. They also found that higher microplastic levels in sediment were linked to higher lead concentrations, suggesting the two pollutants tend to accumulate together.
Microplastics are commonly found in aquatic ecosystems and can pose environmental threats to aquatic organisms. While the threats of microplastic ubiquity are recognized, few studies have concomitantly quantified microplastic abundance and heavy metals along a rural–urban river continuum. In the current study, we studied changes in microplastics and heavy metals (using lead as a proxy) by collecting sediment and water samples along a rural–urban river over two seasons (temperate spring and summer) and across five sites in a North American River. Our results revealed that microplastics decreased in a downstream direction in surface water but did not change predictably in sediment samples collected along the river continuum. Regarding the relationship between microplastic abundance and lead concentrations, we found a positive relationship between microplastics in sediment samples and lead concentrations. Contrariwise, we found no discernible correlation between microplastics in surface water and lead concentrations along the river continuum. Given the presence of microplastics at every site and moderate lead pollution documented in the Wolf River, our results provide baseline data that can aid in the concurrent assessment of microplastics and heavy metals in river systems. These findings can inform environmental managers in planning pollution management strategies for waterways flowing through rural–urban areas.
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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.
Microplastic distribution and their abundance along rivers are determined by land uses and sediment granulometry
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Researchers studied two river watersheds and found that microplastics were widespread in both water and sediment, with concentrations in water rising alongside increased urban land use. Interestingly, microplastics trapped in sediment were more influenced by the grain size of the riverbed than by human activity. The findings suggest that both human factors and natural river characteristics work together to shape where microplastics end up in freshwater systems.
Influence of microplastics on nutrients and metal concentrations in river sediments
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Researchers investigated how microplastics influence nutrient and metal concentrations in river sediments, finding that microplastics alter the distribution of pollutants through their capacity to adsorb contaminants and support biofilm formation on their hydrophobic surfaces.
Abundance, Distribution and Drivers of Microplastic Contaminant in Urban River Environments
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Researchers surveyed microplastic distribution in urban river environments and identified key drivers of accumulation hotspots, finding that land use, hydrology, and infrastructure factors concentrated microplastics at predictable locations that could inform targeted management interventions.
Environmental behavior of microplastic - heavy metal synergistic contamination in a typical urban-rural river network
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Researchers investigated the seasonal co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in urban and rural rivers in a Chinese inland city. They found that both pollutant types were present in all water samples and that microplastics can adsorb heavy metals, potentially increasing the combined environmental risk. The study reveals that river networks connecting urban and rural areas serve as pathways for spreading this dual contamination.
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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.