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Tide-induced infiltration and resuspension of microplastics in shorelines: Insights from tidal tank experiments

Water Research 2023 31 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Feng Qi, Xiaohan Yang, Xiaohan Yang, Xiaohan Yang, Zheng Wang, Feng Qi, Feng Qi, Zhi Chen Zhi Chen Feng Qi, Zheng Wang, Zheng Wang, Feng Qi, Zheng Wang, Xiaohan Yang, Feng Qi, Chunjiang An, Chunjiang An, Chunjiang An, Chunjiang An, Chunjiang An, Zhi Chen Zhi Chen Chunjiang An, Chunjiang An, Chunjiang An, Zheng Wang, Chunjiang An, Zhi Chen Feng Qi, Chunjiang An, Zheng Wang, Feng Qi, Chunjiang An, Chunjiang An, Feng Qi, Feng Qi, Chunjiang An, Zheng Wang, Zheng Wang, Chunjiang An, Xiaohan Yang, Xiaohan Yang, Feng Qi, Chunjiang An, Chunjiang An, Chunjiang An, Chunjiang An, Feng Qi, Chunjiang An, Chunjiang An, Xiaohan Yang, Chunjiang An, Xiaohan Yang, Zheng Wang, Chunjiang An, Zheng Wang, Zheng Wang, Zhi Chen Zheng Wang, Zheng Wang, Zhi Chen Zheng Wang, Zheng Wang, Chunjiang An, Chunjiang An, Xiaohan Yang, Xiaohan Yang, Zheng Wang, Feng Qi, Zhi Chen Zheng Wang, Zheng Wang, Feng Qi, Zhi Chen Zhi Chen Zhi Chen Chunjiang An, Zhi Chen

Summary

Researchers investigated how tidal forces drive microplastic infiltration and resuspension in shoreline sediments using tidal tank experiments, finding that smaller, lower-density particles were more readily resuspended and that tidal cycles progressively redistributed microplastics.

In the present study, the infiltration and resuspension of microplastics (MPs) in a slope substrate under the influence of repeated tidal forces were investigated using a tidal tank. In the scenario in which MPs were placed on the top of the slope, increasing numbers of particles were observed on the water surface with the increase in tidal cycles. More particles of smaller equivalent particle diameter (d) and low density floated to the water surface. The horizontal positions (positive toward the lower tide zone) of MPs showed significant positive correlation with the shortest length c of MPs, MP density, MP weight, d, and Corey shape factor, whereas they showed significant negative correlation with the rate of tidal level change and the longest length a of MPs. The vertical positions (positive in the downward direction) of MPs showed significant positive correlation with the shortest length c of MPs, MP density, MP weight, d, and Corey shape factor, while they demonstrated significant negative correlation with the largest cross-section area and surface tension of MPs. In the scenario in which MPs were placed at the bottom of the tank, the smaller and low-density particles had a higher possibility of moving upward to the water surface under repeated tidal forces. High-density particles also migrated to the water surface due to the surface tension force. Further, a lower rate of tidal level change contributed to more floating of particles. The horizontal positions of MPs showed significant positive correlation with MP density, while they demonstrated significant negative correlation with the largest cross-section area and surface tension of MPs. The vertical positions of MPs showed significant positive correlation with the longest length a of MPs, MP density, MP weight, and d. These results imply that large, high-density, and less flatty particles tend to be distributed in the lower tidal zone and deeper substrate layers. These findings can help understand the redistribution of MPs and assess their risk in the shoreline environment.

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