Microplastic clouds in rivers: spatiotemporal dynamics of microplastic pollution in a fluvial system

IF 6 3区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Environmental Sciences Europe Pub Date : 2024-08-11 DOI:10.1186/s12302-024-00967-w

Alexia Balla, Ahmed Moshen, Tímea Kiss

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Abstract

Background

The microplastic transport of rivers is a complex spatiotemporal process; however, only limited knowledge exists on it, making its monitoring complicated. The study aimed to analyze the spatial and temporal dynamics of suspended sediments and microplastics based on measurements (1) every five days for 2 years at one site and (2) annual repetition at 29 sites along the 750-km-long Tisza River for 3 years. Water samples were taken by pumping (1 m³). Machine learning algorithms were applied to Sentinel images to analyze the spatiality of sediment transport.

Results

In the Tisza River (Central Europe), the microplastic concentration (MPC_mean: 35 ± 27 item/m³) and the suspended sediment concentration (SSC_mean: 60 ± 57 g/m³) showed high temporal variations. During low stages, the concentrations dropped as most transported sediments were deposited on the bottom. These sediments, including microplastics, were remobilized during flood waves, thus, higher MPC and SSC were measured. The first flood wave after a low-stage period had the highest concentrations. The increased transport capacity of the river during floods created large-scale suspended sediment and microplastic waves with increased concentrations. The mean MPC gradually increased between 2021 (19 ± 13.6 item/m³) and 2022 (23.7 ± 15.8 item/m³), and then it more than doubled (2023: 57 ± 44.8 item/m³). The tributaries acted as suspended sediment and microplastic conveyors.

On the Sentinel images, medium-scale clouds were identified, with the suspended sediment clouds being more pronounced than microplastic clouds. Fewer and longer clouds appeared during low stages, separated by clearer water bodies. During flood waves, shorter clouds were detected. The tributaries with increased suspended sediment and microplastic transport created well-distinguishable clouds in the main river.

Conclusions

Identifying suspended sediment and microplastic clouds in a river could support more precise monitoring. The hydrological background of the monitoring and the existence of these clouds should be considered, as sampling from clouds with increased SSC and MPC provides different data than sampling from the clearer water bodies between two clouds.

Graphical Abstract

Abstract Image

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河流中的微塑料云：河流系统中微塑料污染的时空动态变化

背景河流的微塑料迁移是一个复杂的时空过程；然而，目前对这一过程的了解十分有限，因此对其进行监测十分复杂。本研究旨在分析悬浮沉积物和微塑料的时空动态，其测量方法为：（1）在一个地点每五天测量一次，为期两年；（2）在全长 750 公里的蒂萨河沿岸 29 个地点每年重复测量一次，为期三年。水样由水泵抽取（1 立方米）。结果在蒂萨河（中欧），微塑料浓度（MPCmean：35 ± 27 item/m3）和悬浮泥沙浓度（SSCmean：60 ± 57 g/m3）呈现出较高的时间变化。在低谷阶段，由于大部分迁移沉积物沉积在海底，因此浓度下降。这些沉积物（包括微塑料）在洪峰期间被重新移动，因此测得的 MPC 和 SSC 较高。低水位期后的第一个洪峰具有最高的浓度。洪水期间河水的输送能力增加，形成了大规模的悬浮泥沙和微塑料波，浓度也随之增加。2021 年（19 ± 13.6 项/立方米）至 2022 年（23.7 ± 15.8 项/立方米）期间，平均 MPC 逐渐增加，随后增加了一倍多（2023 年：57 ± 44.8 项/立方米）。支流充当了悬浮泥沙和微塑料的输送者。在哨兵图像上，可以识别出中等规模的云，悬浮泥沙云比微塑料云更明显。在水位较低的阶段，云层较少且较长，被较清澈的水体分隔开来。在洪水波浪期间，检测到的云层较短。悬浮泥沙和微塑料迁移量增加的支流在主河道中形成了很好区分的云。应考虑监测的水文背景和这些云的存在，因为在 SSC 和 MPC 增加的云中取样与在两个云之间较清澈的水体中取样所提供的数据不同。

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来源期刊

Environmental Sciences Europe Environmental Science-Pollution

CiteScore

11.20

自引率

1.70%

发文量

110

审稿时长

13 weeks

期刊介绍： ESEU is an international journal, focusing primarily on Europe, with a broad scope covering all aspects of environmental sciences, including the main topic regulation. ESEU will discuss the entanglement between environmental sciences and regulation because, in recent years, there have been misunderstandings and even disagreement between stakeholders in these two areas. ESEU will help to improve the comprehension of issues between environmental sciences and regulation. ESEU will be an outlet from the German-speaking (DACH) countries to Europe and an inlet from Europe to the DACH countries regarding environmental sciences and regulation. Moreover, ESEU will facilitate the exchange of ideas and interaction between Europe and the DACH countries regarding environmental regulatory issues. Although Europe is at the center of ESEU, the journal will not exclude the rest of the world, because regulatory issues pertaining to environmental sciences can be fully seen only from a global perspective.