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Modelling the distribution of microplastics released by wastewater treatment plants in Ria de Vigo (NW Iberian Peninsula)

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2021 52 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Jesús Gago Magda C. Sousa, Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Magda C. Sousa, Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Magda C. Sousa, Jesús Gago Américo S. Ribeiro, M. deCastro, Jesús Gago Jesús Gago João Miguel Días, Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago João Miguel Días, Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Magda C. Sousa, Jesús Gago Jesús Gago João Miguel Días, Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Américo S. Ribeiro, Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Marisela Des, J.L. Gómez-Gesteira, Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago J.L. Gómez-Gesteira, Jesús Gago Jesús Gago João Miguel Días, Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago M. Gómez‐Gesteira, Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago Jesús Gago

Summary

Hydrodynamic and particle-tracking models were used to simulate the transport and distribution of microplastics released by wastewater treatment plants in the Ria de Vigo estuary in northwest Spain, finding that tidal and wind-driven currents strongly influence where microplastics accumulate.

Study Type Environmental

The accumulation of plastic waste in estuaries is growing due to the increase in their use in daily life and their inadequate treatment on wastewater plants (WWTPs). Hydrodynamic and particle-tracking models were validated and used to improve the knowledge about the distribution and concentration of microplastics released by WWTPs in the Ria de Vigo. Results showed that the Vigo WWTP is the main driver of microplastics to the Ria de Vigo. Besides, 21% of the released microplastics reach the adjacent ocean, 24% remain anchored around the Cies Islands, and a negligible percentage reaches the upper estuary when the emission occurs under ebb on spring tide conditions. A negligible number of released microplastics is exported to the nearby ocean when the emission occurs under neap tide conditions. This research can provide a useful tool to support the identification of monitoring processes and debris removal.

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