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Microplastics in the Hamburg port area – An analysis of sediments from the upper tidal Elbe
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Sediment samples from the Hamburg port area were analyzed for microplastics at multiple depths and locations, finding significant contamination throughout the port's artificial waterways. The port environment created unique conditions for microplastic accumulation due to reduced water flow and intensive maritime activity. The study highlights major ports as important but overlooked hotspots for microplastic accumulation in river systems and calls for port authorities to consider plastic management strategies.
Harbors pose an unique environment of increased anthropogenic pressure and artificial river morphology that are of specific interest concerning microplastic release and accumulation. To address the specific situation in the Hamburg port area we conducted a study in cooperation with the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA). Sediment samples in depth profiles were taken at seven sites with similar flow velocity and underlying morphology. Two sites are located upstream and downstream of the port of Hamburg, while four sites are located in the center area of the port. One additional site takes into account an estuary of a receiving stream flowing into the Upper river Elbe. For the analysis of microplastic concentrations in the samples, the biogenic organic matter was removed by digestion (H2O2 10% and NaClO 6-14%) followed by wet sieving and a density separation with NaI (density: 1.5 - 1.6 g/cm3). For identification the Nile red staining method in combination with fluorescence microscopy (AxioLab A.1, Zeiss, TRITC HC Filterset (AHF), 2.5x) was applied. A subset of 101 identified synthetic polymers was investigated for polymer composition via µRaman spectroscopy (DXR2xi Raman Imaging Microscope, Thermo Fisher Scientific). A total number of 31 sediment samples divided into different depths below riverbed level were examined. Detailed results of sites and depths concentrations, morphologies and polymer composition will be presented during the conference. In brief, 11,280 microplastic particles could be found in total. Both the highest and lowest number of particles were detected at center port sites ranging from 60 to 21,799. Fragments are the dominating particle morphology throughout all locations, except for one center harbor site where microbeads are most common. Most common synthetic polymers were detected to be PVC (34 %) and PET (28 %). Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/426148/document
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Microplastics in the Hamburg port area—an analysis of sediment depth profiles along the upper Elbe river, Germany
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Researchers collected sediment depth profiles at seven sites in and around the Hamburg port area along the upper Elbe River, Germany, to analyze microplastic concentrations at different burial depths. Results characterize how the unique morphology and high anthropogenic pressure of port environments influence MP accumulation patterns and sediment depth distribution along one of Europe's major river systems.
Microplastic analysis in sediments of the Elbe River by electrostatic separation and differential scanning calorimetry
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Researchers surveyed 43 sediment samples from the Elbe River using electrostatic separation and differential scanning calorimetry, finding microplastics — predominantly polyethylene fibers — at concentrations up to 44.6 mg/kg in harbor basins, with the highest pollution in the middle Elbe between two major tributaries.
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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.
Microplastic abundance in beach sediments of the Kiel Fjord
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Researchers assessed microplastic abundance in beach sediments at three sites in Kiel Fjord, Germany, finding plastics at all locations including one near a sewage treatment plant. The study highlights how multiple sources — recreational use, wastewater discharge, and plastic litter — contribute to microplastic accumulation in coastal sediments.
Abundance and distribution of microplastics in water and sediments of the river Elbe, Germany
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This study measured the abundance and distribution of microplastics in both water and sediments of a freshwater environment over time. Researchers found microplastics at all sampled locations, with concentrations varying by site characteristics and sample depth. The study expands the limited data on microplastic contamination in freshwater systems beyond marine-focused research.
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