We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Quantifying microplastic stocks and flows in the urban agglomeration based on the mass balance model and source-pathway-receptor framework: Revealing the role of pollution sources, weather patterns, and environmental management practices
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a mass balance model using a source-pathway-receptor framework to quantify microplastic stocks and flows in an urban agglomeration, revealing how pollution sources, weather patterns, and environmental management practices collectively determine the transport of microplastics to receiving water bodies.
Microplastics are widely present in global ecosystems, threatening both marine and freshwater species. Given this problem, it is vital to research where land-based microplastics originate and how they are transmitted to receiving waters in urban agglomerations. Research results should inform systemic mitigation efforts to prevent future contamination. This study established the multi-directional transmission network of a microplastic mass balance system using a source-pathway-receptor framework, and involving annual source stocks and pathway flows with considerable variations under dry and wet weather patterns. Details of a baseline scenario quantifying the occurrence and spread of microplastics in an urban agglomeration were also determined in the context of current environmental management practices. We demonstrated that the total stock of the six major pollution sources amounted to 5317.7 ± 2175.3 and 3320.1 ± 953.6 tons/a in dry and wet weather, respectively; and 2347.8 ± 766.9 and 1991.8 ± 701.8 tons/a flows directly entered the sewer system and receiving water in Shanghai, China, respectively. Prominent microplastic stocks were found in atmospheric fallout, industrial wastewater, and domestic sewage. These stocks were much higher compared to crop farming wastewater, aquacultural wastewater, and livestock and poultry breeding wastewater. Total microplastic flows entering receiving water reached 3207.4 ± 1071.6 tons/a; the largest contributions were from wet weather overflow (23.7%), direct atmospheric fallout (21.7%), wastewater treatment plant effluent (14.2%), industrial wastewater (14.1%), and surface runoff (10.4%). Weather patterns led to divergent microplastic transmission pathways and mass flows, revealing a lagging timeline mode and illustrating the basic spatiotemporal features of microplastic contamination in urban agglomerations. Terminal disposal practices retained about two-fifths of the microplastic flows that would have otherwise been transmitted into receiving water. Of these, land surface sweep contributed half of the retained flow. Improvements in WWTP removal efficiency, storm sewage interception rate, industrial wastewater collection rate, and sewer sediment dredge rate could further enhance the systemic benefits.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic in urban sources and receiving water within an urban area
AI summary Read the abstract
This international study measured microplastic concentrations in urban stormwater sources and receiving water bodies within a city, quantifying how urban runoff pathways contribute to microplastic loads in local aquatic environments.
Towards control strategies for microplastics in urban water
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper applies substance flow analysis to map where microplastics enter, travel through, and accumulate in urban water systems to identify key control points. A systematic whole-system approach is needed because targeting individual sources in isolation has limited effect on overall pollution levels.
Design of model microplastics to study their transport in urban waters
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers designed model microplastic particles with controlled physical properties to systematically study their transport behavior in urban water systems. The work provides a foundation for understanding how microplastic size, density, and shape influence fate and transport in stormwater and urban drainage networks.
The urban microplastic footprint: investigating the distribution and transport
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the distribution and transport of microplastics within an urban environment, mapping the 'urban microplastic footprint' to understand how city infrastructure and land use patterns drive the spatial distribution and downstream export of plastic particles to receiving water bodies.
Microplastic sampling strategies in urban drainage systems for quantification of urban emissions based on transport pathways
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed and applied microplastic sampling strategies across an entire urban municipal catchment under both dry and wet weather conditions, finding that wastewater treatment plants remove over 96% of microplastics but still emit 189 kg per year, while wet-weather emissions from high-traffic subcatchments reached 1,952 grams per population equivalent per year, far exceeding dry-weather levels.
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.