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Subsurface transport of microplastic particles in gravel columns: Impacts of different rain events and particle characteristics

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) 2024 Score: 35 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Jaswant Singh, Jaswant Singh, Jaswant Singh, Jaswant Singh, Jaswant Singh, Jaswant Singh, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Stefan Krause, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Jaswant Singh, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Jaswant Singh, Jaswant Singh, Jaswant Singh, Jaswant Singh, Neeraj Chauhan, Uwe Schneidewind, Stefan Krause, Stefan Krause, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Stefan Krause, Uwe Schneidewind, Brijesh Kumar Yadav Brijesh Kumar Yadav Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Brijesh Kumar Yadav Stefan Krause, Brijesh Kumar Yadav Uwe Schneidewind, Brijesh Kumar Yadav Brijesh Kumar Yadav Brijesh Kumar Yadav Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Stefan Krause, Stefan Krause, Jaswant Singh, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Jaswant Singh, Uwe Schneidewind, Brijesh Kumar Yadav Reza Dehbandi, Brijesh Kumar Yadav Uwe Schneidewind, Stefan Krause, Stefan Krause, Uwe Schneidewind, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Neeraj Chauhan, Neeraj Chauhan, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Stefan Krause, Uwe Schneidewind, Uwe Schneidewind, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Neeraj Chauhan, Stefan Krause, Uwe Schneidewind, Brijesh Kumar Yadav Stefan Krause, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Uwe Schneidewind, Stefan Krause, Brijesh Kumar Yadav Reza Dehbandi, Stefan Krause, Stefan Krause, Uwe Schneidewind, Brijesh Kumar Yadav Reza Dehbandi, Stefan Krause, Stefan Krause, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Stefan Krause, Uwe Schneidewind, Stefan Krause, Reza Dehbandi, Reza Dehbandi, Uwe Schneidewind, Stefan Krause, Stefan Krause, Stefan Krause, Reza Dehbandi, Stefan Krause, Jaswant Singh, Uwe Schneidewind, Stefan Krause, Jaswant Singh, Brijesh Kumar Yadav

Summary

Researchers conducted column experiments using 110 cm wet-packed fine gravel columns to examine subsurface transport of two microplastic types — polystyrene (denser than water) and polyethylene (less dense than water) at 50 µm median size — under different simulated rainfall scenarios including continuous rain, wet-dry cycles, and single events followed by drying. They found that particle density, rainfall pattern, and subsurface heterogeneity all influenced microplastic vertical transport and retention depth in gravel sediments.

Polymers

PE PS

Body Systems

Reproductive

Study Type Environmental

Microplastics (MPs) enter into the soil-water systems through various pathways, including atmospheric deposition, runoff, and the direct use of plastic-containing products such as mulches, fertilizers, and composts in agricultural practices. While surface soils are known to be primary sinks for MPs, their vertical movement in the subsurface remains poorly understood due to a lack of comprehensive data. In this study, we conducted column experiments to explore the transport and retention of MPs in subsurface sediments. Two types of pre-stained MPs (median size 50.4 µm), one with a density greater than water (polystyrene (PS)) and one with a lower density (polyethylene (PE)), were introduced to the top of 110 cm wet-packed fine gravel columns, mimicking typical riverine subsurface gravel. The MP concentration used was 50,000 particles per kilogram of sediment. Different rainfall scenarios were simulated, including continuous rain, wet-dry cycles, and a single rain event followed by drying. Water samples were periodically collected from ports at depths of 30, 50, and 70 cm, with continuous effluent collection at 90 cm to maintain a controlled flow rate. Gravel samples were taken from specific sediment layers (5-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm, 30-40 cm, 40-50 cm, 50-60 cm, 60-70 cm, 70-80 cm and 80-90 cm) to measure MP retention. The results indicated that PS-MPs, due to their higher density, showed greater transport potential compared to PE-MPs under continuous flow. Increased rainfall reduced MP concentrations in the source layer and significantly increased them in deeper layers. Wet-dry cycles further enhanced MP penetration depth. These findings suggest that sediment can serve both as a sink and a pathway for MPs into subsurface environments, affecting subterranean fauna and aquifers. The study highlights the critical impact of hydrological conditions on MP transport in soil-water systems, emphasizing the need to understand these effects for environmental assessments. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559680/document

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