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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 22, 2025

Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff
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Bioretention cells remove microplastics from urban stormwater.

Kelsey Smyth1, Jennifer Drake1, Yourong Li2

  • 1Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, 35St. George Street, Toronto ON M5S 1A4, Canada.

Water Research
|January 5, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Urban stormwater runoff is a significant source of microplastics, with concentrations influenced by rainfall and dry days. Bioretention cells effectively reduce microplastic pollution in urban runoff.

Keywords:
BioretentionMicrofiberMicroplasticStormwaterWater quality

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Water Quality
  • Pollution Control

Background:

  • Understanding microplastic pathways is crucial for effective mitigation strategies.
  • Urban stormwater runoff is a potential conduit for microplastic pollution into aquatic systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize and quantify microplastics in urban stormwater runoff.
  • To assess the efficacy of bioretention cells in reducing microplastic concentrations.

Main Methods:

  • A 2-year field study was conducted to monitor microplastics in urban stormwater.
  • Microplastic concentrations and morphologies were analyzed.
  • The impact of rainfall intensity and antecedent dry days was investigated.
  • The performance of a bioretention cell in filtering microplastics was evaluated.

Main Results:

  • Microplastic concentrations varied from below detection limit to 704 particles/L, with fibers being the dominant morphology.
  • Higher rainfall intensity and longer dry periods correlated with increased microplastic concentrations.
  • Atmospheric deposition was identified as a source of microplastics to urban runoff.
  • Bioretention cells achieved an 84% reduction in median microparticle concentration (106-5,000 µm range).

Conclusions:

  • Urban stormwater runoff is a concentrated source of microplastics, with levels dependent on climate variables.
  • Bioretention cells are effective in filtering microplastics, mitigating their downstream spread.
  • Infiltration-based low impact development practices show potential for controlling microplastic contamination in aquatic environments.