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The role of precipitation events in the water quality of a buffer urban ecosystem
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Researchers quantified how precipitation events affect water quality in an urban drainage reservoir in Santa Fe, Argentina, finding that stormwater runoff substantially elevated concentrations of nutrients, heavy metals, microplastics, hydrocarbons, and coliform bacteria during and after rainfall events throughout an annual hydrological cycle.
Non-point source pollution from stormwater runoff has become one of the main contributors to pollution in urban water bodies. In this study, we aimed to quantify changes in limnological variables (including nutrients), pollutants (heavy metals, microplastics, hydrocarbons), and microbial communities (coliform bacteria and phytoplankton), with particular emphasis on precipitation events in an urban drainage reservoir. To achieve this, we sampled three urban runoff channels that drain water from two main areas of Santa Fe City (Argentina) over an entire hydrological year, including four rainfall events. The results revealed differences among the drainage channels, with hydrocarbons and nitrogen contamination predominating in channel 1, organic matter in channel 2, and eutrophic conditions in channel 3. In all cases, coliforms bacteria and Escherichia coli levels exceeded permitted limits for most of the year, and phytoplankton communities were dominated by species indicative of organic matter pollution and eutrophication. Precipitation events only significantly affected dissolved inorganic nitrogen forms (positive correlation) and hydrocarbons (negative correlation). These findings highlight the importance of integrated stormwater management to reduce pollutant loads, with different management strategies tailored to each runoff channel and urban area.
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Microplastics and anthropogenic debris in rainwater from Bahia Blanca, Argentina
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Researchers collected monthly rainwater samples in Bahia Blanca, Argentina over ten months and detected microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in all samples, documenting atmospheric microplastic deposition in a South American city distant from major industrial centers.
Behavior of macro and microplastics in surface waters in response to extreme meteorological events: a case study on a typical Mediterranean watershed.
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Researchers measured macro- and microplastic concentrations in Mediterranean freshwaters during dry and wet weather periods, finding that rainfall events dramatically increased plastic loads in urban waterways. More urbanized catchments showed higher plastic concentrations during storm events, confirming that urban stormwater runoff is a major driver of microplastic input to rivers. The study highlights the importance of monitoring during and after rain events to capture the full scale of plastic pollution in urban rivers.
Influence of Urbanization and Seasonality on Microplastics in a Small Brazilian Inland Stream
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Researchers sampled a small Brazilian inland stream upstream and downstream of an urban center during dry and rainy seasons, finding urbanization significantly increased microplastic abundance from 1.7 to 2.6 particles per liter during the dry season, while rainfall effects were less consistent.
Estimated discharge of microplastics via urban stormwater during individual rain events
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Researchers collected stormwater samples from 15 locations during rain events to assess microplastic discharge through urban runoff. The study found highly variable microplastic concentrations influenced by catchment characteristics, and provided estimates of the quantity of microplastics released to receiving waters during rain events, highlighting urban stormwater as an important pathway for microplastic pollution.
Impact of Stormwater Runoff on the Water Quality of Lakes in a Metropolitan Region in India
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Researchers measured the impact of stormwater runoff on lake water quality in a metropolitan region of India, finding that post-storm events elevated turbidity, nutrient concentrations, and fecal indicator bacteria in receiving lakes. The results identify stormwater management as a critical gap in urban water governance and highlight seasonal vulnerability of urban lakes to degradation.
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.