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The effect of urban point source contamination on microplastic levels in water and organisms in a cold‐water stream
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Microplastic concentrations in water, macroinvertebrates, and trout in a Wisconsin stream increased significantly downstream of stormwater outfalls and a wastewater plant. The study demonstrates that point sources of pollution drive measurable increases in microplastic contamination in freshwater food webs.
Abstract We examined the influence of point and nonpoint source contamination on microplastic (MP) levels in water, macroinvertebrates, and trout in a small, cold‐water stream in western Wisconsin, U.S.A. We collected samples along an urbanization gradient centered around a 6‐mile corridor that receives numerous MP inputs from stormwater outfalls and a wastewater plant. We digested samples using a wet peroxide oxidation method. Particles filtered from digestates were stained with Nile Red dye, then viewed using fluorescence microscopy. We quantified fluorescing MPs using ImageJ software. MP concentrations in water increased significantly from upstream to downstream reaches and appeared to influence organism MP levels. Macroinvertebrates and trout collected upstream of the city had significantly lower MP levels than macroinvertebrates and trout collected within the city, and for trout, downstream of the city. MP particle lengths were significantly longer in macroinvertebrates compared to water and trout, perhaps indicating preferential accumulation of longer particles from the water column.
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Researchers sampled microplastics in small streams across an urbanization gradient and found contamination at all sites, with concentrations comparable to those in larger rivers and lakes. Fragments and small particles between 63 and 500 micrometers were the most common forms detected. Surprisingly, catchment-scale factors like population density and stormwater overflows did not predict microplastic levels well, suggesting that local-scale sources may be more important for pollution in small streams.
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