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Urbanization and hydrological conditions drive the spatial and temporal variability of microplastic pollution in the Garonne River
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Researchers quantified microplastic concentrations across 14 sites in the Garonne River catchment in France, finding that urbanization drives spatial variation while seasonal hydrology shapes temporal patterns—with higher concentrations and smaller particles in warm, low-flow periods—and polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene dominating polymer composition.
Microplastic (MP) pollution represents a novel environmental pressure acting on freshwater ecosystems. Improving our understanding of the dynamics of MP pollution in freshwater ecosystems is therefore a prerequisite for managing and limiting this pollution. In this study, we quantified the spatial and temporal variability of MP (size range 700 μm - 5 mm) pollution in surface water in 14 sites located across the Garonne river catchment (Southwestern France, 6 in the main river and 8 tributaries). MP concentration averaged 0.15 particles.m (± 0.46 SD) and strongly varied both in space and in time. We found that the spatial variation in MP concentration was driven by urbanization and that the temporal variation in MP concentration and MP size was driven by hydrological conditions, with higher concentrations and smaller particles sizes in warm seasons with low discharge. Polyethylene (44.5%), polystyrene (30.1%) and polypropylene (18.2%) were the main polymers and their proportion did not vary significantly across sampled sites. Particle color was associated with polymer type, with a high proportion of white particles in polystyrene. We also found a significant and negative relationship between MP size and the distance to the source in sites located in the main stream. MP pollution across watershed, from headwater tributaries to lowland rivers, is dynamic, and further studies are needed to improve the resolution of our knowledge of spatial and temporal patterns of MP pollution in freshwater ecosystems.
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Researchers sampled the Garonne River upstream and downstream of a large urban area during flood events and found that microplastic concentrations increased 5 to 8 fold during floods. The study suggests that urbanization significantly modulates freshwater microplastic pollution during flood episodes, with downstream urban sites showing greater changes in microplastic composition and degradation levels.
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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.
Suivi spatio-temporel de la pollution de MP dans la Garonne et potentiel transfert dans le réseau trophique
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This study investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of microplastic pollution in the Garonne River catchment in France and assessed potential transfer into the aquatic food web. Microplastic concentrations varied across sites and seasons, with implications for trophic exposure of fish and invertebrates.
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Researchers estimated microplastic flows across rural-urban gradients in a French catchment, examining how land use and urbanization influence the transport and distribution of microplastic particles through the watershed system.
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Researchers collected stormwater runoff samples from a suburban catchment in Greater Paris across multiple rain events and found significant concentrations of microplastics and microfibers, with concentrations varying substantially between events and correlating with rainfall intensity and catchment dry-weather duration.
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