To what extent can micro-and macroplastics be trapped in sedimentary particles? A case study investigating dredged sediments

Plastic wastes and their fragments (microplastics, MPs <5 mm) represent a global, persistent, and ubiquitous threat to ecosystems. Their sources, transfers and fates are still poorly understood, especially in rivers. To fill this gap, sediments were collected from two dredging disposal sites along the Aa River (France). Four pits were dug, and triplicate samples were obtained at four depths (down to 140 cm). The sediments were sieved to 5 mm to collect macroplastics (MaPs). MPs were separated from the sediment based on density using a NaI solution (1.6 g/mL). Suspected plastics were analyzed with Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy. The studied sediments were found to be widely contaminated with concentrations ranging from 0.97 to 77 MaPs/kg and from 0.78 to 2800 MPs/kg, which were one to four orders of magnitude lower than those in most polluted European riverbeds. The MaPs were principally PE, PP, PS and PVC films, whereas the MPs were mainly PA and PES fibers. The plastic concentrations and features of the two sites, which were filled at two different times, differed. Several factors occurring before and after dredging operations may explain these discrepancies. Nevertheless, no relationships with the sediment features were noted, and thus, one major driving force could not be identified. At the site scale, more than 1 ton of plastic could be stored. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of dredged sediments for past plastic pollution studies and global plastic budget estimations.