Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of Microplastics and Potentially Toxic Elements in Surface Sediments of the River Kelvin, Central Scotland, United Kingdom

  • Published:
Environmental Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Contamination of the environment by microplastics (MPs), polymer particles of <5 mm in diameter, is an emerging concern globally due to their ubiquitous nature, interactions with pollutants, and adverse effects on aquatic organisms. The majority of studies have focused on marine environments, with freshwater systems only recently attracting attention. The current study investigated the presence, abundance, and distribution of MPs and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in sediments of the River Kelvin, Scotland, UK. Sediment samples were collected from eight sampling points along the river and were extracted by density separation with NaCl solution. Extracted microplastics were characterised for shape and colour, and the polymer types were determined through attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Pollution status and ecological risks were assessed for both the microplastics and PTEs. Abundance of MPs generally increased from the most upstream location (Queenzieburn, 50.0 ± 17.3 particles/kg) to the most downstream sampling point (Kelvingrove Museum, 244 ± 19.2 particles/kg). Fibres were most abundant at all sampling locations, with red, blue, and black being the predominant colours found. Larger polymer fragments were identified as polypropylene and polyethylene. Concentrations of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn exceeded Scottish background soil values at some locations. Principal component and Pearson’s correlation analyses suggest that As, Cr, Pb and Zn emanated from the same anthropogenic sources. Potential ecological risk assessment indicates that Cd presents a moderate risk to organisms at one location. This study constitutes the first co-investigation of MPs and PTEs in a river system in Scotland.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akhbarizadeh R, Moore F, Kesh Avarzi B (2018) Investigating a probable relationship between microplastics and potentially toxic elements in fish muscles from northeast of Persian Gulf. Environ Pollut 232:154–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alam FC, Sembiring E, Muntalif BS, Suendo V (2019) Microplastic distribution in surface water and sediment rivers around slum and industrial area (case study: Ciwalengke River, Majalaya district, Indonesia). Chemosphere 224:637–645

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashton K, Holmes L, Turner A (2010) Association of metals with plastic production pellets in the marine environment. Mar Pollut Bull 60:2050–2055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.07.014

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blašković A, Fastelli P, Čižmek H, Guerranti C, Renzi M (2017) Plastic litter in sediments from the Croatian marine protected area of the natural park of Telaščica bay (Adriatic Sea). Mar Pollut Bull 114:583–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blair RM, Waldron S, Phoenix VR, Gauchotte-Lindsay C (2019) Microscopy and elemental analysis characterization of microplastics in the sediment of a freshwater urban river in Scotland, UK. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26:12491–12504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouwman H, Minnaar K, Bezuidenhout C, Verster C (2018) Microplastic in Freshwater Environments A Scoping Study Report to the Water Research Commission. Water Research Commission, Pretoria.

  • Browne MA, Crump P, Niven SJ, Teuten E, Tonkin A, Galloway T, Thompson R (2011) Accumulation of microplastic on shorelines worldwide: sources and sinks. Environ Sci Technol 45(21):9175–9179. https://doi.org/10.1021/es201811s

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell SH, Williamson PR, Hall BD (2017) Microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish and the water from an urban prairie creek. Facets 2(1):395–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campanale C, Stock F, Massarelli C, Kochleus C, Bagnuolo G, Reifferscheid G, Uricchio VF (2020) Microplastics and their possible sources: the example of Ofanto river in southeast Italy. Environ Pollut 258:113284

  • Chen HL, Gibbins CN, Selvam SB, Ting KN (2021) Spatio-temporal variation of microplastic along a rural to urban transition in a Tropical River. Environ Pollut 289:117895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117895

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dai L, Wang L, Li L, Liang T, Zhang Y, Ma C, Xing B (2018) Multivariate geostatistical analysis and source identification of heavy metals in the sediment of Poyang Lake in China. Sci Total Environ 621:1433–1444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson CM, Urquhart GJ, Ajmone-Marsan F, Biasioli M, Duarte AD, Diaz-Barrientos E, Grcman H, Hossack I, Hursthouse AS, Madrid L, Rodrigues S, Zupan M (2006) Fractionation of potentially toxic elements in urban soils from five European cities by means of a harmonised sequential extraction procedure. Anal Chim Acta 565:63–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dikareva N, Simon KS (2019) Microplastic pollution in streams spanning an urbanization gradient. Environ Pollut 250:292–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ding L, Mao RF, Guo X, Yang X, Zhang Q, Yang C (2019) Microplastics in surface waters and sediments of the Wei River, in the northwest of China. Sci Total Environ 667:427–434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duis K, Coors A (2016) Microplastics in the aquatic and terrestrial environment: sources (with a specific focus on personal care products), fate and effects. Environ Sci Eur 28:1–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dusaucy J, Gateuille D, Perrette Y, Naffrechoux E (2021) Microplastic pollution of worldwide lakes. Environ Pollut 284:117075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117075

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dobaradaran S, Schmidt TC, Nabipour I, Khajeahmadi N, Tajbakhsh S, Saeedi R, Mohammadi MJ, Keshtkar M, Khorsand M, Ghasemi FF (2018) Characterization of plastic debris and association of metals with microplastics in coastline sediment along the Persian Gulf. Waste Manag 78:649–658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.06.037

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eo S, Hong SH, Song YK, Han GM, Seo S, Shim WJ (2021) Prevalence of small high-density microplastics in the continental shelf and deep sea waters of East Asia. Water Res 200:117238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eo S, Hong SH, Song YK, Han GM, Shim WJ (2019) Spatiotemporal distribution and annual load of microplastics in the Nakdong River, South Korea. Water Res 160:228–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.05.053

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fahrenfeld NL, Arbuckle-Keil G, Beni NN, Bartelt-Hunt L (2019) Source tracking microplastics in the freshwater environment. TrAC Trends Anal Chem 112:248–254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang X, Peng B, Wang X, Song Z, Zhou D, Wang Q, Qin Z, Tan C (2019) Distribution, contamination and source identification of heavy metals in bed sediments from the lower reaches of the Xiangjiang River in Hunan province, China. Sci Total Environ 689:557–570

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gasperi J, Dris R, Bonin T, Rocher V, Tassin B (2014) Assessment of floating plastic debris in surface water along the Seine River. Environ Pollut 195:163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.09.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gazetteer Scotland (2022) Gazetteer for Scotland. Available online: https://www.scottish-places.info/ (accessed on 8 Nov. 2022)

  • Gerolin CR, Pupim FN, Sawakuchi AO, Grohmann CH, Labuto G, Semensatto D (2020) Microplastics in sediments from Amazon rivers, Brazil. Sci Total Environ 749:141604. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141604

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Golwala H, Zhang X, Iskander SM, Smith AL (2021) Solid waste: an overlooked source of microplastics to the environment. Sci Total Environ 769:144581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He B, Goonetilleke A, Ayoko GA, Rintoul L (2020a) Abundance, distribution patterns, and identification of microplastics in Brisbane River sediments, Australia. Sci Total Environ 700:134467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134467

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holmes LA, Turner A, Thompson RC (2012) Adsorption of trace metals to plastic resin pellets in the marine environment. Environ Pollut 160:42–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hume J (2017) The River Kelvin: route and resource from pre-history to the 20th century. In: The Proceedings from the Kelvin Conference. The Glasgow Naturalist, Vol. 26, Part 4, Glasgow Natural History Society, Glasgow

  • Idowu GA, Olalemi AO, Aiyesanmi AF (2023) Environmental impacts of covid-19 pandemic: release of microplastics, organic contaminants and trace metals from face masks under ambient environmental conditions. Environ Res 217:114956

  • Islam MS, Karim MR, Islam MT, Oishi HT, Tasnim Z, Das H, Kabir AHME, Sekine M (2023) Abundance, characteristic and ecological risks of microplastic in the riverbed sediments around Dhaka City. Sci Total Environ 877:162866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162866

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang N, Luo W, Zhao P, Ga B, Jia JM, Giesy JP (2022) Distribution of microplastics in benthic sediments of Qinghai Lake on the Tibetan plateau, China. Sci Total Environ 835:155434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155434

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kabir AHME, Sekine M, Imai T, Yamamoto K, Kanno A, Higuchi T (2021) Assessing small- scale freshwater microplastics pollution, land-use, source-to-sink conduits, and pollution risks: perspectives from Japanese rivers polluted with microplastics. Sci Total Environ 768:144655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144655

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kabir AHME, Sekine M, Imai T, Yamamoto K, Kanno A, Higuchi T (2022) Microplastics in the sediments of small-scale Japanese rivers: abundance and distribution, characterization, sources-to-sink, and ecological risks. Sci Total Environ 812:152590

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karlsson TM, Vethaak AD, Almroth BC, Ariese F, Velzen M, Hassellov M, Leslie HA (2017) Screening for microplastics in sediment, water, marine invertebrates and fish: method development and microplastic accumulation. Mar Pollut Bull 122(1–2):403–408

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kiss T, F´ori´an S, Szatm´ari G, Sipos G (2021) Spatial distribution of microplastics in the fluvial sediments of a transboundary river – a case study of the Tisza River in Central Europe. Sci Total Environ 785:147306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147306

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klein S, Worch E, Knepper TP (2015) Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics in river shore sediments of the Rhine-main area in Germany. Environ Sci Technol 49:6070–6076. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knight LJ, Parker-Jurd FNF, Al-Sid-Cheikh M, Thompson RC (2020) Tyre wear particles: an abundant yet widely unreported microplastic? Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:18345–18354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08187-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lahens L, Strady E, Kieu-Le TC, Dris R, Boukerma K, Rinnert E, Gasperi J, Tassin B (2018) Macroplastic and microplastic contamination assessment of a tropical river (Saigon River, Vietnam) transversed by a developing megacity. Environ Pollut 236:661–671

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lechner A, Keckeis H, Lumesberger-Loisl F, Zens B, Krusch R, Tritthart M, Glas M, Schludermann E (2014) The Danube so colourful: a potpourri of plastic litter outnumbers fish larvae in Europe’s second largest river. Environ Pollut 188:177–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.02.006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li C, Busquets R, Campos LC (2020) Assessment of microplastics in freshwater systems: A review. Sci Total Environ 707:135578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135578

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin L, Zuo LZ, Peng JP, Cai LQ, Fok L, Yan Y, Li HX, Xu XR (2018) Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in an urban river: a case study in the Pearl River along Guangzhou City, China. Sci Total Environ 644:375–381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.327

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lots FA, Behrens P, Vijver MG, Horton AA, Bosker T (2017) A large-scale investigation of microplastic contamination: abundance and characteristics of microplastics in European beach sediment. Mar Pollut Bull 123:219–226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mani T, Hauk A, Walter U, Burkhardt-Holm P (2015) Microplastics profile along the Rhine River. Sci Rep. 5:17988. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep17988

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mani T, Primpke S, Lorenz C, Gerdts G, Burkhardt-Holm P (2019) Microplastic pollution in benthic midstream sediments of the Rhine River. Environ Sci Technol 53(10):6053–6062. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b01363

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mani T, Burkhardt-Holm P (2020) Seasonal microplastics variation in nival and pluvial stretches of the Rhine River – from the Swiss catchment towards the North Sea. Sci Total Environ 707:135579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135579

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matjašič T, Mori N, Hostnik I, Bajt O, Viršek MK (2023) Microplastic pollution in small rivers along rural-urban gradients: variations across catchments and between water column and sediments. Sci Total Environ 858:160043. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160043

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mehra S, Sharma K, Sharma G, Singh M, Chadh P (2021) Sources, Fate, and Impact of Microplastics in Aquatic Environment. In: Emerging Contaminants. IntechOpen https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93805

  • Moldovan A, Tor¨ok AI, Kovacs E, Cadar O, Mirea IC, Micle V (2022) Metal contents and pollution indices assessment of surface water, soil, and sediment from the Arieș River Basin Mining Area, Romania. Sustainability 14(13):8024

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moore I, McGillivray C, Yeomans WE, Murphy K (2017) Quantifying 250 years of change to the channel structure of the River Kelvin. In: The Glasgow Naturalist, Vol. 26, Part 3, Glasgow Natural History Society, Glasgow

  • Morgado V, Gomes L, Silva RJNB, Palma C (2022) Microplastics contamination in sediments from Portuguese inland waters: physical-chemical characterisation and distribution. Sci Total Environ 832:155053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155053

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MLURI (2003) Background levels of contaminants in Scottish soils, Final report, The Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen

  • Niu S, Wang X, Rao Z, Zhan N (2021) Microplastics present in sediments of Yushan River: a case study for urban tributary of the Yangtze River. Soil Sediment Contam Int J 30:314–330. https://doi.org/10.1080/15320383.2020.1841731

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peng G, Zhu B, Yang D, Su L, Shi H, Li D (2017) Microplastics in sediments of the Changjiang Estuary, China. Environ Pollut 225:283–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phuong NN, Poirier L, Pham QT, Lagarde F, Zalouk-Vergnoux A (2018) Factors influencing the microplastic contamination of bivalves from the French Atlantic coast: location, season and/or mode of life? Mar Pollut Bull 129:664e674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plastics Europe (2020) Plastics—the facts 2020. An analysis of European latest plastics production, demand and waste data. Available online: https://plasticseurope.org/%20application/files/5716/0752/4286/AF_Plastics_the_facts-WEB-2020-ING_FINAL.pdf (accessed on 5 Mar. 2023)

  • Plastics Europe (2022) Plastics—The Facts 2021. An analysis of European plastics production, demand and waste data. Available online: https://plasticseurope.org/knowledge-hub/plastics-the-%20facts-2021 (accessed on 15 Feb. 2023)

  • Rao Z, Niu S, Zhan N, Wang X, Song X (2020) Microplastics in sediments of river yongfeng from Maanshan City, Anhui Province, China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 104(2):166–172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-019-02771-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rochman CM (2018) Microplastics research—from sink to source. Science 360(6384):28–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues MO, Abrantes N, Gonçalves FJM, Nogueira H, Marques JC, Gonçalves AMM (2018a) Spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediments of a freshwater system (Antu˜a River, Portugal). Sci Total Environ 633:1549–1559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.233

  • Rodrigues MO, Gonçalves AMM, Gonçalves FJM, Nogueira H, Marques JC, Abrantes N (2018b) Effectiveness of a methodology of microplastics isolation for environmental monitoring in freshwater systems. Ecol Indic 89:488–495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.02.038

  • Sarkar DJ, Sarkar SD, Das BK, Sahoo BK, Das A, Nag SK, Manna RK, Behera BK, Samanta S (2021) Occurrence, fate and removal of microplastics as heavy metal vector in natural wastewater treatment wetland system. Water Res 192:116853

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sayed AEH, Hamed M, Badrey AEA, Ismail RF, Osman YAA, Osman AGM, Soliman HAM (2021) Microplastic distribution, abundance, and composition in the sediments, water, and fishes of the red and Mediterranean seas, Egypt. Mar Pollut Bull 173:112966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112966

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt C, Krauth T, Wagner S (2017) Export of plastic debris by rivers into the sea. Environ Sci Technol 51(21):12246–12253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SEPA (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency) (2007) Scotland’s Water Environment Review 2000-2006. SEPA, Stirling

  • Shi MM, Li R, Xu A, Su YW, Hu TP, Mao Y, Qi SH, Xing XL (2022) Huge quantities of microplastics are “hidden” in the sediment of China’s largest urban Lake—Tangxun Lake. Environ Pollut 307:119500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119500

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sojka M, Jaskuła J (2022) Heavy Metals in River Sediments: Contamination, Toxicity, and Source Identification—A Case Study from Poland. Int J Environ Res Public Health 19:10502. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song YK, Hong SH, Jang M, Han GM, Jung SW, Shim WJ (2017) Combined effects of UV exposure duration and mechanical abrasion on microplastic fragmentation by polymer type. Environ Sci Technol 51:4368–4376. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b06155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Su L, Xue Y, Li L, Yang D, Kolandhasamy P, Li D, Shi H (2016) Microplastics in Taihu Lake, China. Environ Pollut 216:711–719

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Su Y, Zhang Z, Wu D, Zhan L, Shi H, Xie B (2019) Occurrence of microplastics in landfill systems and their fate with landfill age. Water Res 164:114968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.114968

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Su L, Sharp SM, Pettigrove VJ, Craig NJ, Nan B, Du F, Shi H (2020) Superimposed microplastics pollution in a coastal metropolis. Water Res 168:115140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sulistyowati L, Nurhasanah Riani E, Cordova MR (2022) The occurrence and abundance of microplastics in surface water of the midstream and downstream of the Cisadane River, Indonesia. Chemosphere 291:133071

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor SR, McLennan SM (1985) The Continental Crust: Its Composition And Evolution. Blackwell, Malden, Mass

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson RC, Olsen YS, Mitchell RP, Davis A, Rowland SJ, John AWG, McGonigle DF, Russell AE (2004) Lost at Sea: Where is all the plastic? Science 304:838–843. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1094559

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tibbetts J, Krause S, Lynch I, Sambrook Smith GH (2018) Abundance, Distribution, and Drivers of Microplastic Contamination in Urban River Environments. Water 10:1597. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10111597

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Townsend KR, Lu HC, Sharley DJ, Pettigrove V (2019) Associations between microplastic pollution and land use in urban wetland sediments. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26:22551–22561

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner A, Holmes LA (2015) Adsorption of trace metals by microplastic pellets in fresh water. Environ Chem 15(5):600–610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uddin MM, Peng G, Wang Y, Huang J, Huang L (2021) Pollution status, spatial distribution and ecological risk of heavy metals in sediments of a drinking water lake in South Eastern China. Environ Pollut Bioavailabil 33(1):19–30

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. EPA (United State Environmental Protection Agency) (1997) Exposure Factors Handbook - General Factors. EPA/600/P-95/002Fa. Vol. 1. Office of research and Development. National Center for Environmental Assessment. US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

  • Vermaire JC, Pomeroy C, Herczegh SM, Haggart O, Murphy M (2017) Microplastic abundance and distribution in the open water and sediment of the Ottawa River, Canada, and its tributaries. Facets 2(1):301–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viers J, Dupré B, Gaillardet J (2009) Chemical composition of suspended sediments in World Rivers: New insights from a new database. Sci Total Environ 407(2):853–868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.09.053

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Peng J, Tan Z, Gao Y, Zhan Z, Chen Q, Cai L (2017) Microplastics in the surface sediments from the Beijiang River littoral zone: composition, abundance, surface textures and interaction with heavy metals. Chemosphere 171:248–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Yuan W, Chen Y, Wang J (2018) Microplastics in surface waters of dongting Lake and Hong Lake, China. Sci Total Environ 633:539–545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wen X, Du C, Xu P, Zeng G, Huang D, Yin L, Yin Q, Hu L, Wan J, Zhang J, Tan S, Deng R (2018) Microplastic pollution in surface sediments of urban water areas in Changsha, China: abundance, composition, surface textures. Mar Pollut Bull 136:414–423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.09.043

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wright SL, Thompson RC, Galloway TS (2013) The physical ˙Impacts of microplastics on marine organisms: a review. Environ Pollut 178:483–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xia F, Yao Q, Zhang J, Wang D (2021) Effects of seasonal variation and resuspension on microplastics in river sediments. Environ Pollut 286:117403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiong X, Zhang K, Chen X, Shi H, Luo Z, Wu C (2018) Sources and distribution of microplastics in China’s largest inland lake – Qinghai Lake. Environ Pollut 235:899–906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.081

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu S, Ma J, Ji R, Pan K, Miao A (2020) Microplastics in aquatic environments: occurrence, accumulation, and biological effects. Sci Total Environ 703:134699. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134699

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yin Z (2023) The pollution of microplastics in sediments: The ecological risk assessment and pollution source analysis. Sci Total Environ 859:160323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160323

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yukioka S, Tanaka S, Nabetani Y, Suzuki Y, Ushijima T, Fujii S, Takada H, Van Tran Q, Singh S (2020) Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in surface road dust in Kusatsu (Japan), Da Nang (Vietnam), and Kathmandu (Nepal). Environ Pollut 256:113447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113447

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang K, Su J, Xiong X, Wu X, Wu C, Liu J (2016) Microplastic pollution of lakeshore sediments from remote lakes in Tibet plateau, China. Environ Pollut 219:450–455

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Liu J, Xie Y, Zhong S, Yang B, Lu D, Zhong Q (2020) Distribution of microplastics in surface water and sediments of Qin river in Beibu Gulf,China. Sci Total Environ 708:135176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao J, Ran W, Teng J, Liu Y, Liu H, Yin X, Cao R, Wang Q (2018) Microplastic pollution in sediments from the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, China. Sci Total Environ 640–641:637–645

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao X, Liu Z, Cai L, Han J (2023) Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in surface sediments of a typical river with a highly eroded catchment, a case of the Yan River, a tributary of the Yellow River. Sci Total Environ 863:160932

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Z, Zhang P, Zhang G, Wang S, Cai Y, Wang H (2021) Vertical microplastic distribution in sediments of Fuhe River estuary to Baiyangdian wetland in northern China. Chemosphere 280:130800

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu L, Zhao S, Bittar TB, Stubbins A, Li D (2020) Photochemical dissolution of buoyant microplastics to dissolved organic carbon: rates and microbial impacts. J Hazard Mater 383:121065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121065

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom for the split-site PhD sponsorship provided to OSS. The authors also acknowledge the support from the Analytical Geochemistry Research Group, at the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.

Author Contributions

CM, AF and GA designed the study; OS and CM carried out the experiments; OS, GA and CM analysed data and interpreted results; OS, GA and CM wrote the draft manuscript; GA, CM and AF reviewed the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, Federal University of Technology Akure, P.M. B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

    Oluwatosin Sarah Shokunbi, Gideon Aina Idowu & Ademola Festus Aiyesanmi

  2. Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G1 1XL, Scotland, United Kingdom

    Oluwatosin Sarah Shokunbi & Christine Margaret Davidson

  3. Department of Basic Sciences, Babcock University, P. M. B. 4003, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

    Oluwatosin Sarah Shokunbi

Authors
  1. Oluwatosin Sarah Shokunbi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gideon Aina Idowu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ademola Festus Aiyesanmi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Christine Margaret Davidson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gideon Aina Idowu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shokunbi, O.S., Idowu, G.A., Aiyesanmi, A.F. et al. Assessment of Microplastics and Potentially Toxic Elements in Surface Sediments of the River Kelvin, Central Scotland, United Kingdom. Environmental Management 73, 932–945 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-024-01947-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-024-01947-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation