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.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by Brown and Caldwell (USA). MMA, AB, and FJ were also partially supported by the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA) (No. 67019-31166-2020). The authors also appreciate the cooperation provided by Mr. Evan Boulanger with the City of Memphis (USA) for the permission to get the soil samples within the ponds.
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Highlights
• Soil of the urban stormwater detention ponds acts as a sink for microplastics.
• Microplastics found in the pond soil were mostly of a fragment shape.
• Surface soil contained larger-size and more microplastics than subsurface soil.
• Pond inlets had more and larger microplastics than the outlets in our study.
• The pond with grassroots had a more uniform distribution of microplastics in depth.
Author Contributions
MMA conducted laboratory experiments, interpreted the results, and drafted the first draft of the paper. Throughout the research process, FJ provided the research idea and guided it at multiple stages. FJ, KB and PB helped with data interpretation and revised multiple drafts of this manuscript. Sampling, as well as sample preparation and MP quantification, was assisted by ASAA and AB. The manuscript has been read and approved by all authors.
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Ashiq, M.M., Jazaei, F., Bell, K. et al. Abundance, spatial distribution, and physical characteristics of microplastics in stormwater detention ponds. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 17, 124 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1724-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1724-y