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Microplastic Concentration and Type in a Central Illinois Urban Stream
Summary
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in a small urban stream in central Illinois and found levels orders of magnitude higher than those in major rivers like the Chicago or Danube, with downstream concentrations reaching 2,000 particles per cubic meter. The findings suggest small urban waterways may be underestimated but significant pathways for funneling microplastics into larger water systems.
Micro plastics have become an increasingly pervasive problem in many aquatic ecosystems. To date, most microplastic research has focused on marine systems as well as larger lakes and rivers. Studies conducted in the Chicago, Seine, and Danube Rivers respectively found the mean microplastic concentrations to b e: 1.94 microplastics per m 3 , 30 microplastics per m 3 , and 0.32 microplastics per m 3 . We investigate d the microplastic concentrations and type s in a small urban stream and its tributaries. We also considered w atershed - and reach-scale characteristics in order to determine the relationship between the characteristics and microplastic content. Grab samples were collected from Sugar Creek and respective tributaries during summer and early fall. The samples were processed using a standard method . We found that microplastic concentrations in a small urban stream can be orders of magnitude greater than those found in larger rivers. U pstream samples had an average concentration of 1, 3 00 microplastics per m 3 while the downstream average was 2,000 microplastics per m 3 . Land use is expected to influence the types and concentrations of microplastics. Our results indicate that urban landscapes may be major contributors to microplastics in freshwater environments.