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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Marine Biology
  • Geochemistry

Background:

  • Coastal sediments are crucial in regulating contaminant transfer, especially microplastics (MPs), from land to sea.
  • The dynamic role of sediments as either long-term sinks or episodic sources of MPs is not well understood.
  • Understanding MP flux in river-to-sea systems is vital for managing marine pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate drivers of seasonal and spatial MP distribution in coastal sediments.
  • To determine how riverine inputs and hydrodynamic conditions influence MP accumulation and release.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms behind the transition of sediments from MP sinks to sources.

Main Methods:

  • Field sampling of riverine and estuarine sediments for MP quantification.
  • Analysis of MP abundance, polymer types, and spatial distribution.
  • Correlation of MP concentrations with hydrological data (river discharge, extreme events) and sediment dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Riverine sediments showed significantly higher MP abundance (55.63 items/kg) than estuarine sediments (20.93 items/kg), confirming rivers as primary MP sources.
  • Polyethylene and polypropylene were the dominant MP types.
  • MP accumulation in estuarine sediments varied seasonally, linked to river discharge, resuspension, and hydrodynamics; extreme events shifted sediments from sinks to sources.

Conclusions:

  • Sedimentary MP loads are dynamic, influenced by hydrological disturbances and coastal structures.
  • Episodic high-energy events can mobilize MPs, causing sediments to act as sources.
  • This study advances understanding of MP cycling in river-to-sea systems, highlighting the critical role of dynamic sediment processes.