We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Dynamics of microplastics in urban rivers under varying hydrological regimes
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Despite its importance in limnological studies, hydrological seasonality has been underappreciated in studies on microplastics (MPs). In this study, water and sediment samples containing MPs were collected from five different points along an urban river at eight different times throughout the year. The concentration of MPs varied between 0.14 and 6.29 MPs m-3 in water and between 26.09 and 679 MPs kg-1 in sediments. The daily transport of MPs in water exhibited a clear spatiotemporal pattern, with the highest values during the wet period, when inputs from artificial areas were the main source of MPs. Fibers dominated both water and sediment samples (65 %), whereas spheres (15.1 %) were exclusively present in sediments, and films (9.5 %) were found only in water. Low-density polymers, such as polyethylene (35.6 %) and polypropylene (10.6 %), were more prevalent in water, whereas high-density polymers, including polyester (35.6 %) or rayon, were predominant in sediments. Single-time samplings were inadequate for the assessment of MPs, and the role of artificial areas as a source of MPs varied across the year, being more important in wet periods. Scheduled multisampling in alignment with hydrological regimes is imperative for the accurate quantification of the daily transport of MPs. This methodological approach facilitates relatively more reliable comparisons between different rivers and within the same river over time.
More Papers Like This
The influence of flow on the amount, retention and loss of plastic pollution in an urban river
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers sampled both microplastics and macroplastics at four sites along an urban river in Ontario, Canada during normal flow and storm conditions. The study found that storm events significantly influence plastic transport dynamics, with flow conditions affecting how much plastic pollution is retained in or flushed through urban river systems toward downstream water bodies.
Behavior of macro and microplastics in surface waters in response to extreme meteorological events: a case study on a typical Mediterranean watershed.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured macro- and microplastic concentrations in Mediterranean freshwaters during dry and wet weather periods, finding that rainfall events dramatically increased plastic loads in urban waterways. More urbanized catchments showed higher plastic concentrations during storm events, confirming that urban stormwater runoff is a major driver of microplastic input to rivers. The study highlights the importance of monitoring during and after rain events to capture the full scale of plastic pollution in urban rivers.
Spatio-temporal characteristics of microplastics in river surface water: insights from multi-year field monitoring.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers sampled river water across two years and four seasons to study tiny plastic particles. Microplastic counts were higher in dry seasons than rainy seasons, mainly because higher water flow diluted them, and city pollution sources created persistent hotspots. Flux (the total amount moving through the river) and discharge showed a linear relationship.
Anthropogenic particle concentrations and fluxes in an urban river are temporally variable and impacted by storm events
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured anthropogenic particle concentrations and deposition fluxes in an urban river over time, finding that particle loads were strongly driven by storm events rather than baseline flow conditions. During storm events, particle concentrations increased by an order of magnitude, identifying stormwater runoff as the dominant pathway delivering anthropogenic particles including microplastics to urban rivers.
Spatial and temporal variability in in-stream microplastic loads can impact downstream plastic export
AI summary Read the abstract
This study demonstrated that microplastic loads in streams show significant spatial and temporal variability driven by storm events and seasonal patterns, and that these dynamics can strongly influence the total plastic export from river systems to downstream waters.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.