We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Environmental and land use controls of microplastic pollution along the gravel-bed Ain River (France) and its “Plastic Valley”
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined microplastic accumulation in the gravel-bed Ain River in France, finding that land use patterns — particularly proximity to plastic manufacturing and agricultural areas — are key drivers of microplastic hotspots in river sediments and floodplains.
Understanding microplastic particles (MPs) accumulation and transport along rivers represents a major task due to the complexity and heterogeneity of rivers, and their interactions with their wider corridor. The identification of MPs hotspots and their potential sources is especially challenging in coarse-bed rivers transporting a wide range of particle sizes with a high degree of variability in time and space. This research focuses on the gravel-bed Ain River (Rhône River tributary, France) which is managed by means of various dams and also hosts one of the major plastic production centres in Europe (Oyonnax and Bienne Plastic Valleys). In this research, (i) Geographical Information Systems (GIS) were used to locate plastic factories and to characterise the land use of the Ain River watershed. (ii) On the field, sediment samples were extracted from the hyporheic zone (HZ) of mobile gravel bar heads, while hydro-sedimentary settings were measured in order to describe site conditions. Sampling sites were especially established in downwelling areas (i.e. where the surface water entered the hyporheic zone), upstream and downstream of dams and plastic factories. (iii) After density separation and organic matter digestion of sediment, MPs were characterised with a µFTIR device followed by data processing via the siMPle software. This work highlighted the trapping efficiency of alluvial bars for MPs. The highest MPs concentrations were found along the Plastic Valleys (up to 4400 MPs/kg), while the lower river was less contaminated by MPs. After grain-size correction, a significant breakpoint was identified in the area of the main dams, revealing their major influence on MPs distribution. The variability in MPs concentrations and types suggested a local origin for most of MPs. A particular feature was the dominance of polypropylene (PP) which appears as a critical industrial heritage as the studied region is specialised in the manufacturing of hard plastics. Indeed, multivariate analyses also revealed that MPs concentrations and types were mostly driven by the vicinity of plastic factories and urban areas. This relationship between the land use, the presence of dams and MPs characteristics provides key results for the MPs assessment and the improvement of management issues along coarse-bed rivers.
More Papers Like This
Sedimentology and microplastics along the Ain River Continuum (France)
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined microplastic distribution and sedimentology along the continuum of the Ain River in France. Researchers characterized microplastic abundance and type across different river sections and analyzed relationships with sediment characteristics.
Assessing microplastic transport pathways and potential sources along gravel-bed rivers: Focus on the Ain River
AI summary Read the abstract
A field study in a gravel-bed river assessed microplastic transport pathways by sampling sediment at the water-sediment interface at multiple locations. The study found significant variability in microplastic concentrations and types along the river, reflecting complex local transport and deposition processes. Understanding where microplastics accumulate in river sediments is essential for identifying sources and designing effective mitigation strategies.
Microplastics storage at the sediment-water interface in a gravel-bed river: Importance of local hydro-sedimentary conditions in downwelling, upwelling, and sedimentation zones
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how river water flow patterns affect where microplastics accumulate in gravel streambed sediments along the Ain River in France. They found that upwelling zones, where groundwater pushes up through the riverbed, had significantly higher microplastic concentrations at depth compared to downwelling zones. The findings reveal that the interaction between surface water and groundwater plays an important but previously underappreciated role in trapping and storing microplastics within riverbeds.
Abundance, Distribution and Drivers of Microplastic Contaminant in Urban River Environments
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed microplastic distribution in urban river environments and identified key drivers of accumulation hotspots, finding that land use, hydrology, and infrastructure factors concentrated microplastics at predictable locations that could inform targeted management interventions.
Occurrence and Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in River Shore Sediments of the Rhine-Main Area in Germany
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed river shore sediments and documented the occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics, finding that sediment accumulation zones along riverbanks are hotspots for microplastic deposition.
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.