Microplastics pollution: what can we learn from stormwater pond sediments?
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Date
2023-05-14
Authors
Nguyen, Thu Hang
Rezanezhad, Fereidoun
Slowinski, Stephanie
Van Cappellen, Philippe
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Waterloo
Abstract
In urban watersheds, stormwater runoff is a major carrier of microplastics to downstream water bodies,
which are collected in stormwater ponds (SWPs). As expected, recent studies have reported high
microplastics retention efficiencies in SWPs. However, the variability in the retained microplastic types
and sizes among, and within, SWPs remain understudied. The aims of this study are to (1) assess the
variability in microplastics types, sizes, and abundances within SWP sediment samples, (2) determine
the influence of sediment properties on microplastics accumulation in sediments within and between
SWPs, and (3) relate microplastics loads in stormwater runoff to upstream land use. Thus far, we have
collected sediment samples from five SWPs with variable catchment land use types (commercial,
industrial, and residential) in the City of Kitchener in Ontario. The preliminary results at one of the
industrial ponds show that microplastic fragment accumulation rates decreased from 9x10^7 particles m2 yr-1 in the inlet forebay to 2x10^7 particles m-2 yr-1 in the main basin. Moreover, ponds in the
industrial catchments exhibited the highest sediment burial and organic carbon accumulation rates,
followed by ponds receiving stormwater from residential and commercial areas. Our ongoing research
will shed light on the contribution of urban catchments to microplastic pollution and the factors
controlling microplastics retention by SWPs.
Description
Keywords
GWF AOSM 2023, microplastics, sediment, stormwater ponds