Abundance, spatial distribution, and physical characteristics of microplastics in stormwater detention ponds

doi:10.1007/s11783-023-1724-y

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.

2023, Vol. 17

Issue (10) : 124 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1724-y

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Abundance, spatial distribution, and physical characteristics of microplastics in stormwater detention ponds

Muhammad Masood Ashiq¹, Farhad Jazaei¹(

), Kati Bell², Ahmed Shakir Ali Ali¹, Alireza Bakhshaee¹, Peyman Babakhani³

¹. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
². Brown and Caldwell, Nashville, TN 37228, USA
³. Earth Surface Science Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

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Abstract

Despite extensive research on microplastics (MP) in marine environments, little is known about MP abundance and transport in terrestrial systems. There is, therefore, still little understanding of the main mechanisms driving the substantial transport of MP across different environmental compartments. Storm events can transport MP beyond boundaries, such as from the land to groundwater or the ocean, as has already been discovered for organic carbon transport. Urban stormwater detention ponds are suitable environments to study the impact of stormwater on the environmental fate and transport of MP. Herein, we investigate the longitudinal and vertical distribution of MP within two detention ponds with different physical characteristics. Soil samples were collected at various locations and from multiple depths (surface and subsurface layers) for measuring MP concentrations using fluorescence microscopy. Our findings show that MP are retained more near the inlet of the ponds, and MP of larger sizes were found more abundantly near inlets than outlets. We also found that MP mass and sizes decrease from surface soil to subsurface soil. In the pond, where vegetation (grass root network) was more considerable, MP were found more evenly distributed along the depth. In terms of shape, the fragments were the most abundant MP shape.

Keywords Microplastic Environmental transport Soil pollution Stormwater Detention ponds

Corresponding Author(s): Farhad Jazaei

Issue Date: 12 May 2023

Cite this article:

Muhammad Masood Ashiq,Farhad Jazaei,Kati Bell, et al. Abundance, spatial distribution, and physical characteristics of microplastics in stormwater detention ponds[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2023, 17(10): 124.

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https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-023-1724-y
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2023/V17/I10/124

Fig.1 Two MP transport routes exist within urban areas. Route 1: stormwater runoff (dotted blue arrows), and Route 2: sewage from domestic, commercial, and industrial waste (solid red arrows). Terrestrial systems, e.g., detention and retention ponds, agricultural lands, and landfills, act as sinks and pathways for MP (black dots) transport toward rivers and the ocean.

Fig.2 Pond-I and Pond-II with an inlet (at the confluence of multiple inlets drains) and outlet (farthest) sampling locations.

Tab.1 Microplastics and natural organic matter identification matrices

Fig.3 Identification of MP from NOM through hot plate test using matrices of Tab.1. NOM (a–d) was burnt, lost fluorescence, or did not change shape, while MP (e–i) changed their shape, size, surface texture, and sharpness of the boundary. MP are characterized as (e) fragment, (f) foam, (g) pellet, (h) film, and (i) fiber.

Fig.4 Boxplots of the major dimension of MP versus shapes for surface and subsurface soils at inlet and outlet locations. (a) MP size distribution per kg DW of soil with number concentration next to each box. (b) MP size distribution per kg DW of soil for several shapes.

Tab.2 MP shape distribution, particle concentration, and mass concentration at various locations and depths (surface and subsurface soils were considered within depth ranges of 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm, respectively)

Fig.5 (a) MP particle concentration and (b) MP mass concentration in surface and subsurface soils at inlets and outlets, respectively.

Fig.6 Grassroots and earthworm activity providing preferential paths for MP transport along the depth. The blue arrows represent the preferential flow direction.

Fig.7 MP shape distribution in surface and subsurface soils at Pond-I and Pond-II. Fragments were the most abundant shape (69%), followed by pellets (18%), films (8%), foams (4%), and fibers (1%).

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