We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Potential Discharge of Microplastics in Surface Runoff—Bucharest Case Study
Summary
Researchers assessed microplastic discharge in surface runoff in Bucharest, Romania, examining plastic particle concentrations, morphologies, and transport pathways as runoff moves from urban surfaces into water systems.
Abstract Plastic particles reach and accumulate the water systems through various routes, including dry/wet deposition or surface runoff. Considering that there are not many studies about the sources of microplastics (MPs) in surface runoff and their contribution to water systems, this study aims to estimate for the first time for a city in Romania (Bucharest) the sources and number of MPs that are discharged by surface runoff, by employing three different scenarios. Sources, such as traffic, artificial terrains, paints, and plasters, have been included in the analysis. Results show that surface runoff contains a number of at least 123,148 × 10 9 particles per year. Most MPs originate from tire wear and football fields. Also, after the wastewater treatment processes, surface runoff contributes with over 4.98 MPs L −1 to the receiving water body. A solution to reducing MPs in surface runoff is to develop an effective traffic management plan, with improved road surfaces or driving style.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
The urban microplastic footprint: investigating the distribution and transport
Researchers investigated the distribution and transport of microplastics within an urban environment, mapping the 'urban microplastic footprint' to understand how city infrastructure and land use patterns drive the spatial distribution and downstream export of plastic particles to receiving water bodies.
Characterizing microplastics in urban runoff: A multi-land use assessment with a focus on 1–125 μm size particles
Researchers collected stormwater runoff from three different urban land use types and found microplastics present across all sites, with significant variation in polymer types depending on the area. By using multiple detection techniques, they were able to identify particles as small as 1 micrometer, revealing that the smallest size fractions dominated the total count. The study emphasizes that urban runoff is a major pathway for microplastic pollution reaching waterways.
Microplastics in urban runoff: Global occurrence and fate
This review examines global microplastic occurrence in urban runoff, finding concentrations up to 8,580 particles per liter, and highlights critical gaps in understanding microplastic mobilization, transport, and flux from urban environments to waterways.
Microplastics and tyre wear particles in urban runoff from different urban surfaces
Researchers measured microplastics and tire wear particles in stormwater runoff from roads, parking lots, and rooftops in Sweden. They found that road runoff carried the highest concentrations by far, with large variations between rainfall events. The findings highlight urban roads as a major source of microplastic pollution entering nearby waterways through stormwater.
Contributing to the assessment of the impact of urban activities on microplastic transport through air and runoff infiltration
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.