We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Rising seas and roadway debris: Microplastic and low-density tire wear particles in street-associated tidal floodwater
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in tidal floodwater in Charleston, South Carolina, finding an average of 342 +/- 60 MP/L, with tire wear particles among the most common types. Rising sea levels are increasing the frequency of tidal flooding events that transport street-associated microplastics into coastal ecosystems.
Tidal flooding is increasingly common in low-lying coastal regions as sea levels rise. This type of flooding can occur on sunny days with no rainfall and may transport street-associated debris, such as microplastics (MPs) including tire wear particles (TWPs), to coastal systems. This research aimed to quantify MP abundance in tidal floodwater and investigate their fate. Three locations around Charleston, SC (USA) were sampled during 12 tidal floods, and their adjacent tidal creeks were sampled before and after 5 floods. Floodwater contained an average of 342 ± 60 MP/L. Most MPs in floodwater were low-density TWP (86.5 %). MP abundance in tidal creek surface water following flooding did not change, suggesting that MPs were not immediately transferred to coastal waterways but deposited in adjacent marsh sediment. Elucidating transport routes of MPs in coastal environments is critical to understanding and preventing this type of contamination in the face of a changing climate.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in Tidally-Induced Floodwater, Saltmarshes, and Tidal Creeks.
AI summary Read the abstract
This dataset documents microplastics found in tidal floodwater, saltmarshes, and tidal creeks in Charleston, SC, where sea level rise causes regular street flooding that may spread microplastics and tire wear particles into sensitive coastal habitats.
Occurrence of tire wear particles and other microplastics within the tributaries of the Charleston Harbor Estuary, South Carolina, USA
AI summary Read the abstract
Tire wear particles and other microplastics were detected in tributary streams and sediments throughout the Charleston Harbor Estuary in South Carolina, with tire-derived particles being a substantial fraction of total microplastic contamination. The study highlights that road runoff transporting tire rubber is a significant source of microplastics in coastal South Carolina waterways.
Microplastics and Tire Wear Particles in Urban Stormwater: Abundance, Characteristics, and Potential Mitigation Strategies
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in urban stormwater and found levels ranging from about 4 to 59 particles per liter, with tire wear particles making up roughly 95% of all particles detected. Microlitter capture devices reduced microplastic loads by 35 to 88%, and constructed wetlands provided additional removal. The study suggests that targeted stormwater treatment infrastructure could meaningfully reduce the flow of microplastics into rivers and coastal waters.
Flood-driven microplastics pollution and its ecotoxicological footprint in shallow marine habitats
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers review global evidence showing that flooding events rapidly mobilize accumulated microplastics from soils, sediments, and urban surfaces, delivering concentrated pulses to shallow coastal ecosystems and incrementally raising background contamination levels — concluding that extreme hydrological events must be factored into coastal microplastic monitoring and ecological risk frameworks.
Relevance of tyre wear particles to the total content of microplastics transported by runoff in a high-imperviousness and intense vehicle traffic urban area.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized microplastics and tire wear particles (TWPs) transported by urban stormwater runoff in a highly impervious catchment, finding that TWPs made up a substantial fraction of the total microplastic load in sediments of a stormwater detention reservoir. The study underscores the contribution of road traffic to microplastic pollution entering waterways.
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.