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Microplastics in urban freshwater : a case study in the city of Amsterdam
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This study measured microplastic concentrations in urban freshwater in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, finding widespread contamination across the city's canal network. Urban waterways receive microplastics from multiple sources including stormwater runoff, wastewater overflows, and direct littering.
International audience
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Microplastic in urban sources and receiving water within an urban area
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This international study measured microplastic concentrations in urban stormwater sources and receiving water bodies within a city, quantifying how urban runoff pathways contribute to microplastic loads in local aquatic environments.
Amsterdam urban water system as entry point of river plastic pollution
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Researchers measured floating plastic litter at six outlets of the Amsterdam urban water system and estimated that approximately 2.7 million items enter the connected IJ river each year. The study identified urban waterways as major contributors to river plastic pollution, ranking Amsterdam among the most significant sources. The findings highlight the important but often overlooked role of city canal systems as pathways for plastic entering rivers and eventually the ocean.
Urban water systems as entry points for river plastic pollution
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Researchers found that the urban canal network of Amsterdam contributes an estimated 2.7 million plastic items per year to the adjacent IJ River, demonstrating that urban water systems are significant and underappreciated entry points for river plastic pollution.
Microplastic Contamination in Freshwater and Coastal Ecosystems — Spatial Distribution, Polymer Characterisation, and Source Attribution Across Northwestern Europe
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Researchers conducted a two-year, 84-site sampling campaign across freshwater and coastal ecosystems in Sweden, the Netherlands, France, and Poland, finding urban rivers and coastal zones carry the highest microplastic concentrations and that wastewater effluent and urban runoff together account for over half of all freshwater microplastic inputs, with summer concentrations running 38–52% above winter levels.
Distribution of microplastics in freshwater systems in an urbanized region: A case study in Flanders (Belgium)
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Researchers mapped microplastic distribution across freshwater systems in Flanders, Belgium, finding widespread contamination with concentrations varying by land use and urbanization level, providing a regional-scale assessment needed for risk evaluation in densely populated areas.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.