We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics and microorganisms in sediments from stormwater drain system
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastics in stormwater drain sediments across seasons and found that abundance peaked in winter (when rainfall is infrequent) and dropped in summer when runoff flushing was strongest, with polyethylene terephthalate being the dominant polymer type. The study also documented how microplastics influence the microbial communities in drain sediments, suggesting that stormwater infrastructure acts as both a sink and seasonal conduit for microplastic transport to larger water bodies.
Research has already confirmed the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in sediments of stormwater drain system (SDS). However, the microplastic pollution remains to be elucidated well in sediments, especially the spatio-temporal distribution and the impacts of MPs on microorganisms. In this study, the averaged abundance of MPs in SDS sediments was 479 ± 688 items·kg for spring, 257 ± 93 items·kg for summer, 306 ± 227 items·kg for autumn and 652 ± 413 items·kg for winter. As expected, the abundance of MPs was the lowest in summer due to runoff scouring, while the highest in winter attributed to infrequent low-intensity rainfall. The major polymers of MPs were polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene plastics, occupying 76 % to 98 % of the total number. Fiber MPs were the most regardless of season (41 % to 58 %). MPs with size of 250-1000 μm accounted for over 50 %, which is in accordance with the previous study that MPs of <1000 μm were the major. High-throughput sequencing of analysis shows that MPs provided an ecological niche for bacterial communities different from that of SDS sediments. Actinomycetes and bacteria with chemoheterotrophic genes tended to be enriched on the surfaces of MPs. In addition, Acidobacteria and bacteria with nitrification genes would not like to present in microplastisphere. A strong positive correlation (R from 0.74 to 0.83, P < 0.01) was found between the abundance of MPs in sediments and the abundance of functional genes for denitrification and nitrogen respiration of microorganisms on the surfaces of MPs. It indicates that MPs may influence the nitrogen transformation processes in SDS sediments via the occurrence of denitrification processes on the surfaces of MPs. The abundance of MPs had no significant relationship with the various functional genes of microorganisms in the sediments (P > 0.05), which means that MPs could not profoundly influence the expression of microbial functional genes in SDS sediments.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic pollution in sediments of urban rainwater drainage system
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in all sediment samples from a university campus rainwater drainage system, with abundances ranging from 80 to 2,610 particles/kg and the highest concentrations in student living areas, suggesting that land use patterns and management practices influence microplastic accumulation in urban stormwater infrastructure.
Storm events as key moments of microplastic contamination in aquatic ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers monitored microplastic concentrations in waterways before, during, and after storm events and found that storm-driven runoff caused major spikes in microplastic abundance, identifying storm events as key transport moments that standard monitoring programs typically miss.
Change in microplastic concentration during various temporal events downstream of a combined sewage overflow and in an urban stormwater creek
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how microplastic concentrations in urban waterways changed during rain events, snowmelt, and combined sewage overflow episodes, finding that stormwater runoff and sewer overflows substantially increase microplastic loads, with event type and intensity influencing concentration patterns.
Inter-storm variation in microplastic concentration and polymer type at stormwater outfalls and a bioretention basin
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastic concentrations, polymer types, and inter-storm variability were measured at two stormwater outfalls and a bioretention basin, finding that polymer fingerprints reflected local catchment materials and that concentrations varied substantially between storm events.
Temporal distribution and seasonal fluxes of microplastics in the sediments of UK rural and urban lakes
AI summary Read the abstract
The temporal distribution and seasonal fluxes of microplastics in the sediments of an unnamed urban waterway were quantified, revealing patterns in how microplastic accumulation varies with season, runoff, and flow conditions. The findings highlight how urban water systems act as sinks and transport pathways for microplastic pollution.
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.