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Change in microplastic concentration during various temporal events downstream of a combined sewage overflow and in an urban stormwater creek
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Researchers examined how microplastic concentrations in urban waterways changed during rain events, snowmelt, and combined sewage overflow episodes, finding that stormwater runoff and sewer overflows substantially increase microplastic loads, with event type and intensity influencing concentration patterns.
Changes in microplastic concentrations were examined during various temporal events including heavy rain and snowmelt in a river and an urban stream receiving stormwater. Additionally, microplastic concentrations were measured in an urban river during an active combined sewage overflow event. Microplastic concentrations downstream of a combined sewage outfall were observed to increase seven times compared to ambient conditions. During heavy rainfall an increase of 50 times the microplastic concentration was observed in the urban creek with microplastic concentrations doubling in the urban river. However, the largest increase in microplastic concentration at both locations was observed during the primary snowmelt of spring, with microplastic concentrations increasing 114 times in the urban creek and 11 times in the urban river. These results suggest that more research is required to further establish the influence of both combined sewage overflows and snowmelt as a major temporal conduit of microplastics to freshwater environments.
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Storm events as key moments of microplastic contamination in aquatic ecosystems
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Researchers monitored microplastic concentrations in waterways before, during, and after storm events and found that storm-driven runoff caused major spikes in microplastic abundance, identifying storm events as key transport moments that standard monitoring programs typically miss.
Microplastics in Combined Sewer Overflows: An Experimental Study
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Researchers investigated microplastic concentrations and characteristics in combined sewer overflow events through experimental study, finding that overflow discharges transport significant quantities of microplastic particles directly to surface waters, bypassing wastewater treatment and representing a major urban microplastic pathway.
Estimated discharge of microplastics via urban stormwater during individual rain events
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Researchers collected stormwater samples from 15 locations during rain events to assess microplastic discharge through urban runoff. The study found highly variable microplastic concentrations influenced by catchment characteristics, and provided estimates of the quantity of microplastics released to receiving waters during rain events, highlighting urban stormwater as an important pathway for microplastic pollution.
Microplastics in Stormwater Runoff: Comparing Baseflow to Rainfall Events
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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.
Dynamics of microplastics in urban rivers under varying hydrological regimes
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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.
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.