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Microplastics Occurrence in Stormwater in Portland, OR and Observed Removal by Bioretention Columns
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in stormwater runoff collected from street drains in Portland, Oregon, meaning rain is washing plastic pollution off roads and into our waterways. The good news: special filtering systems called bioretention columns (basically engineered soil-and-plant setups used to clean runoff) were able to capture a significant portion of these particles before they reached rivers and streams. This matters because microplastics that end up in waterways can work their way into fish, drinking water sources, and eventually our own bodies, so finding effective ways to filter them out early could help reduce our overall exposure.
Data for a study in Portland, OR determining the occurrence of microplastics in stormwater catch basins and the potential effectiveness of stormwater biofilters in removing microplastics as described in a manuscript by Wolfand et al. (2023). The README file provide details for the following data: (1) Results from grab samples taken from five catch basins during four storm events. Suspected microplastics were quantified visually with a microscope and confirmed with FTIR. (2) Results from a column study that was conducted to determine the removal of microplastics by three types of geomedia: a proprietary mix, the City of Portland standard mix, and layered compost and sand. Each geomedia was tested in triplicate for five tests. Link to study: https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/JOEEDU.EEENG-7285
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