We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Behavior of macro and microplastics in surface waters in response to extreme meteorological events: a case study on a typical Mediterranean watershed.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured macro- and microplastic concentrations in Mediterranean freshwaters during dry and wet weather periods, finding that rainfall events dramatically increased plastic loads in urban waterways. More urbanized catchments showed higher plastic concentrations during storm events, confirming that urban stormwater runoff is a major driver of microplastic input to rivers. The study highlights the importance of monitoring during and after rain events to capture the full scale of plastic pollution in urban rivers.
Few studies have identified the impact of extreme meteorological events, and its correlation with urbanization on the behavior of macro and microplastics (MPs) in freshwater. This work assessed the potential input and variation of macro and MPs in Mediterranean waters linked to rainfall events and urbanization. Hence, water samples were collected during dry and wet periods, in two more or less urbanized Lebanese coastal outlets (Nahr Ibrahim, Nahr Antelias), with a total of seven sampling campaigns. Water samples of 100L were filtered with three sieves of 5 mm, 500 µm and 150 µm, respectively. Concentrations, sizes and shapes were determined, and polymer identification by Micro-Raman and MACRORAM is in progress. The results highlighted a significant spatio-temporal variation. Along Ibrahim river, high abundance of MPs was detected with a mean of 0.4 particles/L during wet season compared to 0.27 particles/L during dry season. In the contrary, results obtained in the of Antelias river, considered highly urbanized, showed higher abundance during dry season with a mean of 2.6 particles/L and 1.1 particles/L for the wet season. A greater diversity of fragments and macroplastics was observed during rainy periods. Moreover, during rainfall events, MPs abundance was linked to the urbanization of rivers. Indeed, Antelias outlet exhibited higher MPs abundance (1.1 particles/L) compared to Ibrahim outlet (0.4 particles/L), which could be the result of urban runoff, land use and anthropogenic activities. Besides, first polymer identification indicated the presence of rubber-like polymers in these samples. Finally, this study highlighted a significant correlation between rainfall, MPs abundance and type, as well as the correlation between urban activities and plastic pollution in surface waters using a straightforward sampling strategy. These results suggest to better take into consideration the meteorological events to define plastic level pollution to the marine environment with a standardized method. Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/425982/document
More Papers Like This
Microplastic inputs to the Mediterranean Sea during wet and dry seasons: The case of two Lebanese coastal outlets
AI summary Read the abstract
Sampling of two Lebanese rivers found that microplastic concentrations were far higher in the more urbanized and industrialized river, and that plastic particle loads spiked at the start of the wet season before declining as rain continued—suggesting that seasonal stormwater flushes pulse large amounts of microplastics into the Mediterranean Sea. These results underscore how urban land use and seasonal weather patterns together control the flow of plastic pollution from land to sea.
Dynamics of microplastics in urban rivers under varying hydrological regimes
AI summary Read the abstract
Monitoring of urban rivers showed that microplastic concentrations fluctuate significantly with varying hydrological conditions such as storm events and seasonal flow changes. Understanding these dynamics is essential for accurately characterizing the river microplastic load and its variability over time.
Inter-event and intra-event dynamics of microplastic emissions in an urban river during rainfall episodes
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted high-frequency sampling of microplastics in a Japanese urban river during three different rainfall events to understand how storms mobilize plastic pollution. They found that rainfall events increased microplastic loads by 4 to 110 times compared to dry weather, with smaller particles mobilizing first during lighter rains and larger particles surging after peak rainfall intensity. The study reveals that storm dynamics play a critical role in determining when and how microplastics are flushed from urban areas into waterways.
A plastic storm: The role of stormwater in the microplastic load of an urban river system
AI summary Read the abstract
Stormwater systems in urban areas were found to be a significant source of microplastics entering river systems, transporting particles from roads, buildings, and other surfaces during rainfall events. A fine-resolution study measured the types and quantities of microplastics carried by stormwater in an urban catchment, finding concentrations comparable to inputs from wastewater treatment plants. Better capture and treatment of urban stormwater is needed to reduce this largely unregulated pathway for microplastics reaching rivers and the ocean.
Microplastics in Stormwater Runoff: Comparing Baseflow to Rainfall Events
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastic concentrations in stormwater runoff were compared between dry baseflow conditions and rainfall-driven storm events in an urban watershed, finding significantly higher microplastic loads during rainfall events. The results identify stormwater as a major episodic pathway delivering microplastics from urban landscapes to receiving waterways.
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.