Issue 1, 2021

Why analysing microplastics in floodplains matters: application in a sedimentary context

Abstract

Microplastics in the environment are a relatively new form of anthropogenic contamination. Right now, the research focus is on the detection of microplastic accumulation in different environmental compartments and understanding the processes that have led to its transport. Detailed information on microplastics in floodplain areas and their distribution in depth are still missing to better understand accumulation points. Therefore, this study presents on the one hand microplastic detection in fluvial sediments from nine sampling sites along a river course. Polymers were determined with infrared spectroscopy and additional sedimentary analysis of the grain size and heavy metal concentration was performed. In total, there was less microplastic in the upper than in the lower river course and slip-off slopes were identified as accumulation hotspots also in deeper sediment layers. Mostly, microplastic particles were detected in fine sediment and heavy metal concentrations along the river were similar to those of microplastics. On the other hand, besides the spatial distribution of microplastics and accumulation in floodplain areas, microplastic analysis offered information in a sedimentary context. Sedimentation rates (0.29–4.00 cm a−1) and patterns between temporal deposition and microplastic polymers were identified. The basis for the development of a dating method by detection of MPs in sediments was thus established. Microplastics as a contaminant provide, in addition to the identification of deposition areas, further data in a temporal and sedimentary perspective.

Graphical abstract: Why analysing microplastics in floodplains matters: application in a sedimentary context

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 okt 2020
Accepted
25 nov 2020
First published
27 nov 2020

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2021,23, 117-131

Why analysing microplastics in floodplains matters: application in a sedimentary context

S. Lechthaler, V. Esser, H. Schüttrumpf and G. Stauch, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2021, 23, 117 DOI: 10.1039/D0EM00431F

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