A theoretical assessment of microplastic transport in river
catchments and their retention by soils and river sediments

J 2016

A theoretical assessment of microplastic transport in river catchments and their retention by soils and river sediments

NIZZETTO, Luca, Gianbattista BUSSI, Martyn N. FUTTER, Dan BUTTERFIELD, Paul G. WHITEHEAD et. al.

Basic information

Original name

A theoretical assessment of microplastic transport in river catchments and their retention by soils and river sediments

Authors

NIZZETTO, Luca (380 Italy, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Gianbattista BUSSI (826 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Martyn N. FUTTER (752 Sweden), Dan BUTTERFIELD (578 Norway) and Paul G. WHITEHEAD (826 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

Edition

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS, CAMBRIDGE, ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY, 2016, 2050-7887

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30304 Public and environmental health

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 2.592

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/16:00093279

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c6em00206d

UT WoS

000381493800012

Keywords in English

SEWAGE-SLUDGE; INCA; MODEL; LAND

Abstract

V originále

The presence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment is a problem of growing concern. While research has focused on MP occurrence and impacts in the marine environment, very little is known about their release on land, storage in soils and sediments and transport by run-off and rivers. This study describes a first theoretical assessment of these processes. A mathematical model of catchment hydrology, soil erosion and sediment budgets was upgraded to enable description of MP fate. The Thames River in the UK was used as a case study. A general lack of data on MP emissions to soils and rivers and the mass of MPs in agricultural soils, limits the present work to serve as a purely theoretical, nevertheless rigorous, assessment that can be used to guide future monitoring and impact evaluations. The fundamental assumption on which modelling is based is that the same physical controls on soil erosion and natural sediment transport (for which model calibration and validation are possible), also control MP transport and storage. Depending on sub-catchment soil characteristics and precipitation patterns, approximately 16-38% of the heavier-than-water MPs hypothetically added to soils (e.g. through routine applications of sewage sludge) are predicted to be stored locally. In the stream, MPs < 0.2 mm are generally not retained, regardless of their density. Larger MPs with densities marginally higher than water can instead be retained in the sediment. It is, however, anticipated that high flow periods can remobilize this pool. Sediments of river sections experiencing low stream power are likely hotspots for deposition of MPs. Exposure and impact assessments should prioritize these environments.

Links

LM2015051, research and development project

Name: Centrum pro výzkum toxických látek v prostředí (Acronym: RECETOX RI)

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR

LO1214, research and development project

Name: Centrum pro výzkum toxických látek v prostředí (Acronym: RECETOX)

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR

Citovat

NIZZETTO, Luca, Gianbattista BUSSI, Martyn N. FUTTER, Dan BUTTERFIELD and Paul G. WHITEHEAD. A theoretical assessment of microplastic transport in river catchments and their retention by soils and river sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS. CAMBRIDGE: ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY, 2016, vol. 18, No 8, p. 1050-1059. ISSN 2050-7887. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c6em00206d.

@article{1370835,
   author = {Nizzetto, Luca and Bussi, Gianbattista and Futter, Martyn N. and Butterfield, Dan and Whitehead, Paul G.},
   article_location = {CAMBRIDGE},
   article_number = {8},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c6em00206d},
   keywords = {SEWAGE-SLUDGE; INCA; MODEL; LAND},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2050-7887},
   journal = {ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS},
   title = {A theoretical assessment of microplastic transport in river catchments and their retention by soils and river sediments},
   url = {http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2016/EM/C6EM00206D#!divAbstract},
   volume = {18},
   year = {2016}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1370835
AU  - Nizzetto, Luca - Bussi, Gianbattista - Futter, Martyn N. - Butterfield, Dan - Whitehead, Paul G.
PY  - 2016
TI  - A theoretical assessment of microplastic transport in river catchments and their retention by soils and river sediments
JF  - ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS
VL  - 18
IS  - 8
SP  - 1050-1059
EP  - 1050-1059
PB  - ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
SN  - 20507887
KW  - SEWAGE-SLUDGE
KW  - INCA
KW  - MODEL
KW  - LAND
UR  - http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2016/EM/C6EM00206D#!divAbstract
L2  - http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2016/EM/C6EM00206D#!divAbstract
N2  - The presence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment is a problem of growing concern. While research has focused on MP occurrence and impacts in the marine environment, very little is known about their release on land, storage in soils and sediments and transport by run-off and rivers. This study describes a first theoretical assessment of these processes. A mathematical model of catchment hydrology, soil erosion and sediment budgets was upgraded to enable description of MP fate. The Thames River in the UK was used as a case study. A general lack of data on MP emissions to soils and rivers and the mass of MPs in agricultural soils, limits the present work to serve as a purely theoretical, nevertheless rigorous, assessment that can be used to guide future monitoring and impact evaluations. The fundamental assumption on which modelling is based is that the same physical controls on soil erosion and natural sediment transport (for which model calibration and validation are possible), also control MP transport and storage. Depending on sub-catchment soil characteristics and precipitation patterns, approximately 16-38% of the heavier-than-water MPs hypothetically added to soils (e.g. through routine applications of sewage sludge) are predicted to be stored locally. In the stream, MPs < 0.2 mm are generally not retained, regardless of their density. Larger MPs with densities marginally higher than water can instead be retained in the sediment. It is, however, anticipated that high flow periods can remobilize this pool. Sediments of river sections experiencing low stream power are likely hotspots for deposition of MPs. Exposure and impact assessments should prioritize these environments.
ER  -

NIZZETTO, Luca, Gianbattista BUSSI, Martyn N. FUTTER, Dan BUTTERFIELD and Paul G. WHITEHEAD. A theoretical assessment of microplastic transport in river catchments and their retention by soils and river sediments. \textit{ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES \&{}amp; IMPACTS}. CAMBRIDGE: ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY, 2016, vol.~18, No~8, p.~1050-1059. ISSN~2050-7887. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c6em00206d.

Detailed Information on Publication Record