We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Vertical Profiles of Microplastics in the Hyporheic Zone Sediment: A Case Study in the Yangtze River, Nanjing Section
Summary
Researchers measured microplastics at multiple depths in the sediment of the hyporheic zone — the boundary layer where river water and groundwater mix — along the Yangtze River. They found that microplastics penetrate this zone and could migrate into groundwater, raising concerns that even aquifers distant from direct human activity may be contaminated by riverine plastic pollution.
Microplastics are ubiquitous in the river environment, although their abundance in sediment profiles has received little attention. The river hyporheic zone (HZ) sediment is the area influenced by surface and groundwater flow dynamics, and pollutants are more likely to be transported vertically in this area, thus entering the groundwater. Understanding the microplastic abundance and composition in the HZ sediment is crucial for microplastic pollution management. Hence, this study investigated the vertical distribution and characteristics of microplastic in the HZ sediment of the Yangtze River (Nanjing section). The results show that the abundance of microplastics in the HZ sediment ranged from 207 ± 95 to 1817 ± 467 items/kg dry wet in a vertical profile. With the increase of sediment depth, the abundance of microplastics decreased obviously in most sites, whereas the proportions of pellet shapes and smaller sizes of microplastics increased only at S1. No significant variation was found in the microplastic colors between different depth layers. Polypropylene and polyethylene were the dominant polymer types in all sediment samples. These results provided insights into the understanding of the microplastic fates in a river HZ region.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Occurence of microplastics in the hyporheic zone of rivers
This study documented microplastics in hyporheic zone sediments (the subsurface interface between rivers and groundwater) at multiple river sites, finding that this hidden zone accumulates plastic particles from the overlying water column. The findings reveal that microplastic contamination extends below visible river sediments, potentially acting as a long-term reservoir of plastic pollution.
Hyporheic exchange processes of pore-scale microplastics
Researchers studied how microplastics move through the hyporheic zone, the region where river water mixes with groundwater beneath the streambed. They found that denser plastic particles sank through sediment pores toward groundwater, while lighter plastics rose to the surface, and both behaved differently from dissolved substances. These findings raise concerns that microplastics may be contaminating groundwater systems through processes that are not well captured by current water quality models.
Occurence and Distribution of Microplastics in the Hyporheic Zone in the Ziarat River
Researchers investigated the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in the hyporheic zone of the Ziarat River, examining how this ecologically sensitive interface between surface water and groundwater accumulates microplastic particles and extends the exposure time of benthic organisms.
Fate of Microplastics in Deep Gravel Riverbeds: Evidence for Direct Transfer from River Water to Groundwater
Researchers tracked microplastic particles vertically through gravel riverbeds using depth-profile sampling, finding that MPs move directly from river water into subsurface gravel sediments and onward toward groundwater, documenting a pathway for plastic particles to enter drinking water aquifers.
Insights into the horizontal and vertical profiles of microplastics in a river emptying into the sea affected by intensive anthropogenic activities in Northern China
This first vertical profile study of microplastics in a river in northern China found significant differences in microplastic concentration between surface, intermediate, and bottom waters, with higher abundances near the riverbed, suggesting that surface-only sampling underestimates total microplastic loads.