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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastics in urban catchments: Review of sources, pathways, and entry into stormwater
ClearContributing to the assessment of the impact of urban activities on microplastic transport through air and runoff infiltration
Researchers investigated the contribution of urban activities to microplastic transport through both airborne pathways and stormwater runoff infiltration, quantifying plastic particle fluxes in an urban watershed. The study found that road surfaces, construction materials, and tire wear were significant urban sources, with rainfall events mobilizing microplastics into both air and subsurface water.
Relevance of tyre wear particles to the total content of microplastics transported by runoff in a high-imperviousness and intense vehicle traffic urban area.
Researchers characterized microplastics and tire wear particles (TWPs) transported by urban stormwater runoff in a highly impervious catchment, finding that TWPs made up a substantial fraction of the total microplastic load in sediments of a stormwater detention reservoir. The study underscores the contribution of road traffic to microplastic pollution entering waterways.
Microplastics from tyre and road wear A literature review
This literature review examines microplastics generated from tire and road wear, identifying road traffic as a significant but often overlooked source of plastic pollution in urban runoff and waterways. The authors assess what is known about tire particle composition, environmental fate, and potential ecological effects.
A Review of Microplastic Pollution Characteristics in Global Urban Freshwater Catchments
This review synthesizes evidence on microplastic pollution characteristics in urban freshwater catchments worldwide, examining sources, concentrations, and transport pathways from terrestrial to marine environments. Researchers found that human activities are the fundamental driver of microplastic pollution and that freshwater catchments serve as critical conduits for microplastic transfer to oceans.
Is road pavement wear a source of microplastics in stormwater runoff?
This study investigated whether road pavement wear is a measurable source of microplastics in stormwater runoff, distinct from the better-characterized tire wear contribution. Pavement-derived particles were identified in stormwater samples, confirming that road surface material itself contributes to microplastic loading in urban runoff alongside tire wear and other sources.
Are we underestimating stormwater? Stormwater as a significant source of microplastics in surface waters
This review highlights stormwater runoff as a major but underestimated source of microplastic pollution in rivers and lakes. Tire and road wear particles, litter, and road dust are the primary sources, with concentrations varying widely depending on rainfall and land use. The findings matter because stormwater often receives less treatment than sewage, meaning large amounts of microplastics flow directly into the waterways that communities use for drinking water and recreation.
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.
Microplastics retained in stormwater control measures: Where do they come from and where do they go?
Stormwater control measures were found to retain and accumulate microplastics from both episodic stormwater loading and continuous atmospheric deposition, raising concern that they may serve as long-term microplastic sources to groundwater through downward particle migration.
Microplastics in urban stormwater sediments and runoff: An essential component in the microplastic cycle
This review systematically analyzed microplastic contamination in urban stormwater runoff and sediments, finding concentrations that varied enormously across global studies. Researchers found that stormwater is a major but underappreciated pathway for delivering microplastics to rivers, lakes, and oceans. The study highlights that better stormwater management practices are needed to reduce this significant source of aquatic microplastic pollution.
Microplastics and tyre wear particles in urban runoff from different urban surfaces
Researchers measured microplastics and tire wear particles in stormwater runoff from roads, parking lots, and rooftops in Sweden. They found that road runoff carried the highest concentrations by far, with large variations between rainfall events. The findings highlight urban roads as a major source of microplastic pollution entering nearby waterways through stormwater.
Microplastic Pathways in the Portland, OR Region: Results From Stormwater and Atmospheric Sampling
This study quantified microplastics in urban stormwater runoff and atmospheric deposition in the Portland, Oregon region, finding both pathways deliver significant quantities of plastic particles to freshwater systems. Stormwater was found to carry far more microplastics than atmospheric deposition, highlighting urban runoff as a critical pathway requiring management.
Microplastic contamination in an urban area: a case study in Greater Paris
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination across Greater Paris, finding that urban areas generate and accumulate substantial microplastic pollution through multiple pathways including stormwater, atmospheric deposition, and river transport.
Sources, transport, measurement and impact of nano and microplastics in urban watersheds
This review examines what is known about nano and microplastic sources, transport pathways, transformations, and measurement challenges in urban watershed environments, identifying freshwater and terrestrial systems as critically underresearched compared to marine settings. The authors stress that most ocean plastic originates from land, making urban watershed research essential for source control.
Characterization and comparison of microplastic occurrence in point and non-point pollution sources
Wastewater, stormwater runoff, and surface water samples from multiple catchment types were compared for microplastic content, with PET dominating in urban and non-point sources while rubber from tire wear dominated highway runoff, and particles smaller than 0.5 mm passing through both wastewater and stormwater treatment systems.
The atmospheric microplastics deposition contributes to microplastic pollution in urban waters
Researchers investigated how atmospheric deposition contributes to microplastic pollution in urban waters. The study found that microplastic deposition fluxes were higher during wet weather than dry weather and showed moderate to strong correlations with atmospheric conditions, demonstrating that airborne microplastic fallout is a meaningful source of contamination in urban water environments.
Microplastics in urban runoff: Global occurrence and fate
This review examines global microplastic occurrence in urban runoff, finding concentrations up to 8,580 particles per liter, and highlights critical gaps in understanding microplastic mobilization, transport, and flux from urban environments to waterways.
Microplastic sampling strategies in urban drainage systems for quantification of urban emissions based on transport pathways
Researchers developed and applied microplastic sampling strategies across an entire urban municipal catchment under both dry and wet weather conditions, finding that wastewater treatment plants remove over 96% of microplastics but still emit 189 kg per year, while wet-weather emissions from high-traffic subcatchments reached 1,952 grams per population equivalent per year, far exceeding dry-weather levels.
Identification, classification and quantification of microplastics in road dust and stormwater
Researchers identified and quantified microplastics in road dust and stormwater, finding significantly higher concentrations in industrial areas compared to residential zones, with tire wear particles and polyethylene fragments being the most common types.
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.
Research on the non-point source pollution of microplastics
This study characterized microplastics as a non-point source pollutant in surface water bodies, analyzing the sources, transport pathways, and influence factors of microplastic pollution from agricultural runoff, urban stormwater, and atmospheric deposition.
Tyre wear particles: an abundant yet widely unreported microplastic?
Researchers collected tire wear particles from roadside drains and natural environments near a major UK road, finding that these particles are abundant and widespread yet frequently undetected in environmental monitoring, suggesting tyre wear is a major but under-reported microplastic source.
Sources and Fate of Microplastics in Urban Areas: A Focus on Paris Megacity
Using Paris as a case study, this chapter analyzes the various sources of microplastics in an urban catchment — including wastewater, stormwater runoff, and atmospheric deposition — and traces how they move through the city's water system. The study underscores that urban environments are major generators and conduits for microplastic pollution reaching freshwater and marine systems.
Assessment of microplastic transport and distribution in the urban environment of Coimbra municipality
Researchers tracked microplastic transport and distribution across five urban watersheds in Coimbra, Portugal, sampling atmospheric deposition, runoff, and streams before and during rainfall. Wet deposition carried more MPs than dry deposition, stream concentrations nearly doubled during rain events, and more urbanized, smaller watersheds had higher MP loads.
Are we underestimating the sources of microplastic pollution in terrestrial environment?
This review argues that land-based sources of microplastic pollution are significantly underestimated, even though most marine microplastics originate from terrestrial sources. Researchers found that textile washing accounts for roughly 35% of microplastics in water, with additional contributions from tire wear, agricultural plastic films, cosmetics, and construction materials. The study highlights atmospheric deposition as a newly recognized pathway for microplastic dispersal that requires urgent investigation.