We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in the sediments of a UK urban lake
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers sampled sediments from Edgbaston Pool, a small UK urban lake, and found microplastics throughout, including at depth — indicating historical accumulation. The study adds freshwater lakes to the list of microplastic-contaminated environments and suggests that urban lakes serve as local sinks for plastic pollution.
While studies on microplastics in the marine environment show their wide-distribution, persistence and contamination of biota, the freshwater environment remains comparatively neglected. Where studies on freshwaters have been undertaken these have been on riverine systems or very large lakes. We present data on the distribution of microplastic particles in the sediments of Edgbaston Pool, a shallow eutrophic lake in central Birmingham, UK. These data provide, to our knowledge, the first assessment of microplastic concentrations in the sediments of either a small or an urban lake and the first for any lake in the UK. Maximum concentrations reached 25-30 particles per 100 g dried sediment (equivalent to low hundreds kg) and hence are comparable with reported river sediment studies. Fibres and films were the most common types of microplastic observed. Spatial distributions appear to be due to similar factors to other lake studies (i.e. location of inflow; prevailing wind directions; propensity for biofouling; distribution of macroplastic debris) and add to the growing burden of evidence for microplastic ubiquity in all environments.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in coastal sediments of Ełckie Lake (Poland)
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists sampled sediments around a Polish lake and found microplastics across all areas, with the highest concentrations near urban and tourist zones. Lake sediments are increasingly recognized as microplastic sinks, accumulating plastic that enters from surrounding land use activities.
A temporal sediment record of microplastics in an urban lake, London, UK
AI summary Read the abstract
Using a dated sediment core from a North London lake, researchers reconstructed a historical record of microplastic accumulation dating back to the 1960s, finding that microplastic concentrations increased steadily alongside broader trends in plastic production. This is one of the first studies to document the temporal accumulation of microplastics in an urban freshwater lake sediment.
Lake sediments as microplastic sink: The case of three lakes from Northern and Central Poland
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in bottom sediments from three lakes in northern and central Poland with low surrounding human activity, finding between 4 and 21 microplastic particles per kilogram of wet sediment. These values were low compared to lakes in urbanized areas, suggesting anthropogenic pressure significantly drives sediment microplastic accumulation.
Microplastic Pollution in Surface Waters and Sediments of Urban Lake
AI summary Read the abstract
This book chapter reviews microplastic pollution in urban lake surface waters and sediments, describing sources, distribution patterns, and the ecological consequences of MP accumulation in these widely used but understudied freshwater habitats.
Temporal distribution and seasonal fluxes of microplastics in the sediments of UK rural and urban lakes
AI summary Read the abstract
The temporal distribution and seasonal fluxes of microplastics in the sediments of an unnamed urban waterway were quantified, revealing patterns in how microplastic accumulation varies with season, runoff, and flow conditions. The findings highlight how urban water systems act as sinks and transport pathways for microplastic pollution.
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.