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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Stormwater microplastic polymer types, particle sizes, and impact of techniques
ClearStormwater microplastic polymer types, particle sizes, and impact of techniques
Researchers characterised microplastic size distribution, morphology, and polymer profiles in urban stormwater runoff across multiple storm events and assessed how different subsampling techniques affect estimated microplastic concentrations and polymer diversity. The study found that subsampling methodology significantly influences results, highlighting the need for standardised approaches to accurately quantify stormwater as a microplastic pathway into aquatic ecosystems.
Stormwater runoff microplastics: Polymer types, particle size, and factors controlling loading rates
Researchers characterized microplastics in stormwater runoff samples collected at urban outfall locations. The study identified 17 different polymer types across various storm events, with concentrations around 0.99 particles per liter for the 500-1000 micrometer size range, and found that rainfall intensity and land use were key factors controlling microplastic loading rates.
Urban stormwater microplastic size distribution and impact of subsampling on polymer diversity
Researchers examined how subsampling affects the characterization of microplastics in urban stormwater, finding that small subsamples can underestimate polymer diversity and that fibrous microplastics dominated across urban and suburban sites.
Characterizing microplastics in urban runoff: A multi-land use assessment with a focus on 1–125 μm size particles
Researchers collected stormwater runoff from three different urban land use types and found microplastics present across all sites, with significant variation in polymer types depending on the area. By using multiple detection techniques, they were able to identify particles as small as 1 micrometer, revealing that the smallest size fractions dominated the total count. The study emphasizes that urban runoff is a major pathway for microplastic pollution reaching waterways.
Microplastics in Stormwater: Sampling and Methodology Challenges
Stormwater runoff washes microplastics from roads, lawns, and urban surfaces directly into streams and rivers, but measuring this pathway consistently has been hampered by a lack of standardized sampling methods. This study collected stormwater sediment samples from control measures across multiple U.S. regions and found that conventional sampling tools designed for chemical contaminants are poorly suited for capturing the full range of microplastic sizes and shapes. The results call for purpose-built sampling protocols for stormwater microplastics to improve the reliability of pollution monitoring.
Factors Controlling Microplastic Concentrations and Polymer Profiles in Wastewater, Storm Water, and Surface Water
A critical review of 143 studies found that microplastic concentrations in wastewater span eight orders of magnitude, with the highest levels in the smallest particle size fractions, while polyethylene and polypropylene are the most commonly detected polymers across freshwater systems. The wide variation is largely an artifact of inconsistent sampling, extraction, and analytical methods, making direct comparisons between studies unreliable and complicating decisions about water treatment and regulation.
Land use-based characterization and source apportionment of microplastics in urban storm runoffs in a tropical region
Urban stormwater runoff in a tropical monsoon region contained 4.7 particles/L and 3.8 mg/L microplastics on average, with concentrations following land use order of industrial > transportation > commercial > residential, and approximately 85% of sources identifiable by morphology and polymer type.
Microplastics monitoring in different environments: separation, physicochemical characterization, and quantification
Researchers systematically monitored microplastic contamination across multiple environments including a wastewater treatment plant, surrounding water bodies, and soils near plastic factories, characterizing shape, size, color, and polymer composition via microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. They found fragments and fibers to be the most common microplastic shapes in water environments and documented simultaneous contamination across all sampled matrices.
Microplastic emission characteristics of stormwater runoff in an urban area: Intra-event variability and influencing factors
Researchers investigated microplastic emission characteristics in urban stormwater runoff from industrial and residential catchments. Microplastics were detected in concentrations of 54 to 639 particles per liter, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the dominant polymers and fragments the most common shape, and concentrations were higher after longer dry periods.
Representative subsampling methods for the chemical identification of microplastic particles in environmental samples
Researchers evaluated different subsampling approaches for selecting microplastic particles from environmental samples for chemical identification, testing representativeness across particle count, size, and polymer type. The study identified best-practice protocols for achieving reliable estimates of plastic fraction and polymer composition from large heterogeneous samples.
Inter-storm variation in microplastic concentration and polymer type at stormwater outfalls and a bioretention basin
Microplastic concentrations, polymer types, and inter-storm variability were measured at two stormwater outfalls and a bioretention basin, finding that polymer fingerprints reflected local catchment materials and that concentrations varied substantially between storm events.
Microplastic Pollution in Stormwater: Preliminary Findings from the Oregon Coast
Researchers collected stormwater samples and analyzed them for microplastic content, providing preliminary findings on particle abundance, types, and size distributions in urban stormwater runoff. The results confirm stormwater as a significant pathway for microplastics from land surfaces into receiving water bodies.
Microplastics in different water samples (seawater, freshwater, and wastewater): Methodology approach for characterization using micro-FTIR spectroscopy
Researchers developed a standardized methodology for detecting and characterizing small microplastics (10-500 micrometers) in different water types using micro-FTIR spectroscopy. The study tested various sample preparation approaches for seawater, freshwater, and wastewater, establishing reliable protocols for rinsing, digestion, and microplastic collection that can be used to assess treatment plant removal efficiency.
From the highway to receiving water bodies: identification and simultaneous quantification of small microplastics (< 100 µm) in highway stormwater runoff
Researchers used micro-FTIR vibrational spectroscopy to simultaneously identify and quantify small microplastics (under 100 µm) in highway stormwater runoff sampled at inlet and outlet points of a filtration facility in Italy. Inlet concentrations reached up to 39,813 SMPs/L with polyamide 6 and HDPE dominating, and the treatment system reduced concentrations substantially, though significant microplastic loads still discharged to the receiving water body.
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.
Insights Into Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Ecosystem: a Short Review of Sampling and Analysis Methods
This review summarizes current methods for sampling and analyzing microplastics in rivers and estuaries, including techniques like FTIR and Raman spectroscopy for polymer identification. The authors highlight the need for standardized sampling and analysis methods to ensure that microplastic data across different studies are reliable and comparable.
Microplastics in urban stormwater—developing a methodology for its monitoring
Researchers developed a novel cascade filtration methodology using four steel filters of varying pore sizes to collect and characterize microplastics from urban stormwater retention ponds. The method combined optical and FTIR analysis to quantify and identify microplastics, providing a replicable monitoring framework for stormwater systems.
Microplastic discharge and other anthropogenic pollution in urban runoff
Researchers measured microplastic fluxes in urban runoff at four sites in Kuopio, Finland, using fraction filtration and imaging FPA-FTIR spectroscopy, alongside analysis of metals, nutrients, and solid matter. Microplastic concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 46 MPs per litre depending on rain conditions, with an average particle size of 185 micrometres and fibers as the dominant shape, indicating urban runoff as a significant pathway for plastics to enter aquatic systems.
Spectroscopic analysis of microplastic contaminants in an urban wastewater treatment plant from Seoul, South Korea
Researchers performed systematic multi-spectroscopic analysis of microplastics at influent and effluent stages of a metropolitan wastewater treatment plant in Seoul, South Korea, using FTIR and microscopic methods to characterize MP type, size, and polymer composition. The study quantified treatment efficiency for MP removal and identified the dominant polymer types entering and leaving the WWTP, informing efforts to reduce microplastic discharge to urban waterways.
Critical reassessment of microplastic detection methodologies and abundances in the marine environment
This review critically reassesses methodological limitations in marine microplastic detection, arguing that inconsistent size fractionation, incomplete polymer identification, and lack of standardized protocols across studies prevent reliable estimation of global MP abundance in the marine environment.
Subsampling microplastics for chemical characterization and confirmation: assessing efficiency and discussing reliability risks
Researchers systematically reviewed subsampling strategies used in microplastic marine contamination studies and assessed how common approaches affect the efficiency and reliability of FTIR-based chemical characterisation. The study identified widespread use of subsampling and evaluated associated risks of sampling bias and inaccurate abundance estimates.
Analysis, Occurrence, and Degradation of Microplastics in the Aqueous Environment
This book chapter reviews the major analytical techniques used to detect and quantify microplastics in freshwater environments, covering sampling strategies, sample preparation, and identification methods such as FT-IR spectroscopy. It also discusses the wide diversity of polymer types found in aquatic systems and how they influence degradation and environmental risk.
Microplastics and Tire Wear Particles in Urban Stormwater: Abundance, Characteristics, and Potential Mitigation Strategies
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in urban stormwater and found levels ranging from about 4 to 59 particles per liter, with tire wear particles making up roughly 95% of all particles detected. Microlitter capture devices reduced microplastic loads by 35 to 88%, and constructed wetlands provided additional removal. The study suggests that targeted stormwater treatment infrastructure could meaningfully reduce the flow of microplastics into rivers and coastal waters.
Source- and polymer-specific size distributions of fine microplastics in surface water in an urban river
Researchers investigated size distributions of fine microplastics from different sources in an urban river, finding that weathering and fragmentation produce a range of particle sizes and that source-specific size signatures can help trace microplastic origins.