We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in Four Estuarine Rivers in the Chesapeake Bay, U.S.A.
Summary
Researchers surveyed microplastics in four estuarine rivers of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and found contamination across all sites, with fibers as the dominant type and concentrations reflecting inputs from surrounding urban and suburban land use.
Once believed to degrade into simple compounds, increasing evidence suggests plastics entering the environment are mechanically, photochemically, and/or biologically degraded to the extent that they become imperceptible to the naked eye yet are not significantly reduced in total mass. Thus, more and smaller plastics particles, termed microplastics, reside in the environment and are now a contaminant category of concern. The current study tested the hypotheses that microplastics concentration would be higher in proximity to urban sources, and vary temporally in response to weather phenomena such as storm events. Triplicate surface water samples were collected approximately monthly between July and December 2011 from four estuarine tributaries within the Chesapeake Bay, U.S.A. using a manta net to capture appropriately sized microplastics (operationally defined as 0.3-5.0 mm). Selected sites have watersheds with broadly divergent land use characteristics (e.g., proportion urban/suburban, agricultural and/or forested) and wide ranging population densities. Microplastics were found in all but one of 60 samples, with concentrations ranging over 3 orders of magnitude (<1.0 to >560 g/km(2)). Concentrations demonstrated statistically significant positive correlations with population density and proportion of urban/suburban development within watersheds. The greatest microplastics concentrations also occurred at three of four sites shortly after major rain events.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in the surface waters of the Chesapeake Bay
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations across 30 surface water sites in the Chesapeake Bay using manta trawl sampling and FTIR analysis, finding higher concentrations near major cities and river tributaries. Fragments, films, and fibers were the dominant morphologies, with polyethylene and polypropylene the most common polymers, providing baseline data to inform regional mitigation strategies.
Microplastic in three urban estuaries, China
Researchers surveyed three urban estuaries in China and found microplastics throughout, with concentrations and types reflecting the combined influence of surrounding city density, stormwater runoff, and tidal mixing.
A Novel Approach for Characterization of Microplastic Pollution in the Chesapeake Bay
Researchers developed a new method to detect and characterize microplastics as small as 20 micrometers in the Chesapeake Bay, overcoming limitations of previous sampling techniques. They found microplastic concentrations ranging from about 12 to 95 particles per liter across four sampling locations, with fibers and fragments being the most common types. The study provides a more complete picture of microplastic pollution in this ecologically important estuary by capturing smaller particles that are typically missed.
Microplastic distribution and characteristics across a large river basin: Insights from the Neuse River in North Carolina, USA
Researchers characterized microplastic distribution across the Neuse River Basin in North Carolina, finding microplastics in both water and sediment at all sampling locations, with concentrations influenced by land use and proximity to urban areas.
Quantification, characterization and risk assessment of microplastics from five major estuaries along the northern Bay of Bengal coast
Researchers measured microplastic pollution in five major estuaries along the Bay of Bengal coast in Bangladesh and found contamination at every site, with polyethylene being the most common plastic type. The rivers were classified at the most severe hazard level for microplastic contamination based on the types of polymers found. Since these estuaries supply water and fish to millions of people, the contamination raises concerns about human exposure through drinking water and seafood.