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
Summary
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.