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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastics retained in rain gardens within different functional areas of Nanjing, eastern China
ClearMicroplastics in Field-Installed Bioretention Systems: Vertical Distribution and Retention from Stormwater
Scientists tested rain gardens (special planted areas that filter stormwater runoff) to see if they can trap tiny plastic particles that wash off city streets and parking lots. They found these systems do catch microplastics before they reach rivers and drinking water sources, with most plastic pieces getting trapped deep in the soil layers. This research suggests that installing more rain gardens in cities could help reduce the amount of microplastics that end up in our water supply.
Temporal and spatial distribution of microplastics in green infrastructures: Rain gardens
Researchers measured temporal and spatial distribution of microplastics in green areas including parks and urban forests, finding particles across all sampled sites with concentration patterns influenced by proximity to roads, human activity, and atmospheric deposition. The results indicate that even urban green spaces are not free from microplastic contamination.
Microplastics and nanoplastics in stormwater management engineered porous media systems: a systematic review of their sources, transport, retention, and removal characteristics
This systematic review summarizes how engineered stormwater systems like rain gardens and biofilters capture and retain microplastics and nanoplastics. The findings show these systems can effectively reduce plastic particles in stormwater runoff, which matters because untreated stormwater is a major pathway for microplastics to enter the rivers and lakes that supply our drinking water.
Estimated discharge of microplastics via urban stormwater during individual rain events
Researchers collected stormwater samples from 15 locations during rain events to assess microplastic discharge through urban runoff. The study found highly variable microplastic concentrations influenced by catchment characteristics, and provided estimates of the quantity of microplastics released to receiving waters during rain events, highlighting urban stormwater as an important pathway for microplastic pollution.
Distribution characteristics of microplastics in storm-drain inlet sediments affected by the types of urban functional areas, economic and demographic conditions in southern Beijing
This study analyzed microplastics in storm-drain inlet sediments across agricultural, commercial, and residential districts in Beijing, finding distinct distribution patterns linked to land use type. Storm-drain inlets were identified as a critical link in transporting microplastic pollutants from urban runoff into receiving waters.
Distribution of microplastics in rainfall and their control by a permeable pavement in low-impact development facility
A low-impact development permeable pavement system in South Korea captured approximately 98% of microplastics present in rainfall runoff, with polyethylene fragments under 100 µm being the most common particle type. The study shows that green infrastructure designed for stormwater management can double as an effective barrier against microplastic entry into freshwater systems, an important finding for urban water quality planning.
Microplastic Transport and Accumulation in Rural Waterbodies: Insights from a Small Catchment in East China
Microplastics were sampled from drainage ditch sediments across forest, agricultural, horticultural, and urban areas in a Nanjing catchment, finding 922 MP particles of six dominant polymer types with concentrations varying by land use and pond connectivity within the catchment.
Microplastic pollution in urban stormwater inlet sediments influenced by land use type of runoff drainage area
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in urban stormwater inlet sediments across different land use types in Ma'anshan City, China. They found microplastics present in all locations, with sediments near main roads showing the highest contamination at over 1,100 items per kilogram, roughly double that of other land use types. The study reveals that polypropylene was the dominant polymer across all areas, and that the characteristics of microplastic pollution vary systematically with surrounding land use patterns.
Microplastic pollution in sediments of urban rainwater drainage system
Researchers found microplastics in all sediment samples from a university campus rainwater drainage system, with abundances ranging from 80 to 2,610 particles/kg and the highest concentrations in student living areas, suggesting that land use patterns and management practices influence microplastic accumulation in urban stormwater infrastructure.
Microplastics in urban soils of Nanjing in eastern China: Occurrence, relationships, and sources
Researchers surveyed microplastics in urban green space soils across Nanjing, China, finding an average abundance of 461 particles per kilogram with fibers and fragments as the dominant forms. Source analysis linked microplastic patterns to nearby delivery and recycling activity points, suggesting that urban logistics infrastructure is an underrecognized microplastic source.
Blue–Green Infrastructure Effectiveness for Urban Stormwater Management: A Multi-Scale Residential Case Study
Despite its title referencing urban stormwater management, this paper studies the effectiveness of blue-green infrastructure — such as rain gardens and permeable pavements — at managing stormwater runoff from residential areas under climate change conditions. While stormwater is a major carrier of microplastics to waterways, this study focuses on hydraulic performance rather than microplastic removal, and is only tangentially relevant to the topic.
Integration of ecological restoration and landscape aesthetics: Mechanisms of microplastic retention by optimization of aquatic plants landscape design in urban constructed wetlands — A case study of the living water park in Chengdu
A two-year study of the Living Water Park in Chengdu found that aquatic plant landscapes in constructed wetlands significantly retained microplastics, with plant roots and surfaces acting as physical barriers that reduced MP concentrations downstream.
Microplastics discharged from urban drainage system: Prominent contribution of sewer overflow pollution
Researchers evaluated the abundance and distribution of microplastics in urban drainage systems in coastal Chinese cities, with a focus on sewer overflow events during storms. The study found that overflow pollution during wet weather is a prominent contributor to microplastic discharge into urban water bodies, with meteorological conditions and land use patterns significantly influencing microplastic transport and release.
Microplastic pollution in sophisticated urban river systems: Combined influence of land-use types and physicochemical characteristics
This study assessed microplastic pollution across an urban river network in China, finding that land-use type and water physicochemical properties jointly influence microplastic distribution, with industrial and residential areas contributing highest loads.
Microplastic emission characteristics of stormwater runoff in an urban area: Intra-event variability and influencing factors
Researchers found that stormwater runoff from both industrial and residential urban catchments contained substantial microplastics (54–639 particles per liter), with polypropylene and polyethylene dominating, and that microplastic concentrations peaked early in rain events following longer dry periods.
Analysis of Bioretention Capability in Removing Microplastic Particles from Stormwater
This study tested the ability of bioretention systems (vegetated stormwater gardens) to remove microplastic particles from stormwater, finding effective removal across multiple particle sizes and types. Bioretention infrastructure shows promise as a practical tool for preventing microplastics from stormwater runoff from reaching rivers and coastal waters.
Characterization of microplastics accumulated in sediments of stormwater detention basins, in relation to the land use patterns in the contributing catchment.
Microplastics in stormwater detention basin sediments were characterized and linked to surrounding land use, with roads and residential areas contributing the highest concentrations and most diverse plastic types.
Plastic pollution risks in bioretention systems: a case study
Researchers investigated plastic pollution in urban stormwater bioretention systems and found these green infrastructure features both accumulate microplastics from road runoff and risk leaching plastic particles into groundwater, raising concerns about their role as pollution pathways.
Microplastics pollution in inland freshwaters of China: A case study in urban surface waters of Wuhan, China
Researchers characterized microplastic pollution in inland freshwaters across urban suburban areas of China, finding contamination that reflected land use intensity and population density in the surrounding catchments.
Urban pipeline rainwater runoff is an important pathway for land-based microplastics transport to inland surface water: A case study in Beijing
This study characterized microplastics in urban rainwater pipeline runoff draining from different land-use types, finding that pipelines are an important but understudied pathway for transporting land-based microplastics to surface water. Abundance and polymer composition varied by land use, with commercial and road-adjacent catchments showing the highest loads.