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Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
Published on: July 28, 2018
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Microplastic reorganization in urban river before and after rainfall
Yiting Wei1, Peng Dou2, Dongyu Xu1
1State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100038, China.
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|October 4, 2022
Summary
Rainfall impacts microplastic (MP) pollution in urban rivers, potentially diluting MP abundance but increasing larger particle sizes. Stormwater introduces new MP types, altering MP stability and sources, though overall pollution risk remains low.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecotoxicology
- Urban Hydrology
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) are prevalent in urban environments, with rivers acting as key transport pathways.
- The influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on MP distribution in urban rivers is not well understood.
- Understanding MP dynamics is crucial for assessing urban aquatic ecosystem health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the organization, stability, and pollution risk of microplastics in the Qing River, Beijing, before and after rainfall.
- To determine the impact of rainfall events on MP characteristics and sources in an urban river system.
- To evaluate the environmental behavior of MPs under varying hydrological conditions.
Main Methods:
- Sampling and analysis of microplastics in river water before and after rainfall events.
- Characterization of MP size distribution, polymer types, and abundance.
- Assessment of MP stability, fragmentation, and potential pollution risk.
- Identification of potential MP sources based on observed changes.
Main Results:
- Rainfall diluted MP abundance but increased the proportion of larger MPs (NMPs, LMPs), while small MPs (SMPs) remained dominant.
- Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were the primary MPs introduced by stormwater.
- MP diversity increased post-rainfall, indicating enrichment from local sources.
- Rainfall reduced MP stability and fragmentation, with NMPs and LMPs being more susceptible to downsizing.
- MP sources shifted from wastewater treatment plants and atmospheric deposition to soil and road dust after rainfall.
- Microplastic pollution risk in the Qing River was assessed as low and decreased after rainfall.
Conclusions:
- Rainfall significantly influences the organization, stability, and sources of microplastics in urban rivers.
- The findings provide empirical evidence for MP environmental behavior influenced by natural and anthropogenic factors.
- Urban rivers are dynamic systems where rainfall events play a critical role in microplastic transport and transformation.
