Modeling of microplastics discharged from a station in Marian Cove, West Antarctica

Conspicuous amounts of microplastics have been discovered in bays near Antarctic research stations, including several types of microplastics in the water columns of Marian Cove. This study proposes an efficient operating strategy for a wastewater treatment plant to mitigate microplastic accumulations in the bay by assessing the transport and accumulation of microplastics using numerical simulations. Hence, microplastic particles were classified into falling and rising particles to find a mechanism for their vertical migration. The results showed that the characteristics of the vertical migration of the particles and flow conditions critically determined their traveling distance and accumulation location. Further, the amount of microplastics accumulated in the cove depended on the release time of the wastewater during the tidal cycle. Wastewater treatment plants need to be improved to reduce microplastics. However, it is necessary to adjust the location and schedule for releasing them into Marian Cove.