Sand bed river dynamics controlling microplastic flux
Abstract Microplastic contamination of river sediments has been found to be pervasive at the global scale and responsive to plastic and sediment bed properties, the flow regime and the river morphology. The physical controls governing the storage, remobilization and pathways of transfer in sand bed...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80892-3 |
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| author | Hazel Beaumont Annie Ockelford Phill Morris-Simpson |
| author_facet | Hazel Beaumont Annie Ockelford Phill Morris-Simpson |
| author_sort | Hazel Beaumont |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Microplastic contamination of river sediments has been found to be pervasive at the global scale and responsive to plastic and sediment bed properties, the flow regime and the river morphology. The physical controls governing the storage, remobilization and pathways of transfer in sand bed rivers remain unquantified. This means it is not currently possible to determine the risks posed by microplastic contamination within these globally significant river systems. Using controlled flume experiments we show that sand bed rivers can store up to 40% of their microplastic load within the sediment bed indicating that these environments can act as resilient sinks of microplastics. By linking bedform dynamics with microplastic transport characteristics we show that similarities exist between granular transport phenomena and the behavior, and hence predictability, of microplastic flux. Specifically, we demonstrate the inverse relationship between bedform celerity and microplastic retention within the bed can be used to predict microplastic flux. Further, we show that, in these environments, microplastic shape is more important than previously thought in controlling the fate of microplastics. Together, these findings are significant since they have important implications for the prediction and hence management of microplastic contamination in sand bed environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-490d496771214d56a7563a889898a57c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-490d496771214d56a7563a889898a57c2024-12-01T12:25:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111010.1038/s41598-024-80892-3Sand bed river dynamics controlling microplastic fluxHazel Beaumont0Annie Ockelford1Phill Morris-Simpson2School of Engineering, University of West of EnglandSchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of LiverpoolSchool of Applied Sciences, University of BrightonAbstract Microplastic contamination of river sediments has been found to be pervasive at the global scale and responsive to plastic and sediment bed properties, the flow regime and the river morphology. The physical controls governing the storage, remobilization and pathways of transfer in sand bed rivers remain unquantified. This means it is not currently possible to determine the risks posed by microplastic contamination within these globally significant river systems. Using controlled flume experiments we show that sand bed rivers can store up to 40% of their microplastic load within the sediment bed indicating that these environments can act as resilient sinks of microplastics. By linking bedform dynamics with microplastic transport characteristics we show that similarities exist between granular transport phenomena and the behavior, and hence predictability, of microplastic flux. Specifically, we demonstrate the inverse relationship between bedform celerity and microplastic retention within the bed can be used to predict microplastic flux. Further, we show that, in these environments, microplastic shape is more important than previously thought in controlling the fate of microplastics. Together, these findings are significant since they have important implications for the prediction and hence management of microplastic contamination in sand bed environments.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80892-3Microplastic fluxBedform dynamicsRiversSand sediments |
| spellingShingle | Hazel Beaumont Annie Ockelford Phill Morris-Simpson Sand bed river dynamics controlling microplastic flux Scientific Reports Microplastic flux Bedform dynamics Rivers Sand sediments |
| title | Sand bed river dynamics controlling microplastic flux |
| title_full | Sand bed river dynamics controlling microplastic flux |
| title_fullStr | Sand bed river dynamics controlling microplastic flux |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sand bed river dynamics controlling microplastic flux |
| title_short | Sand bed river dynamics controlling microplastic flux |
| title_sort | sand bed river dynamics controlling microplastic flux |
| topic | Microplastic flux Bedform dynamics Rivers Sand sediments |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80892-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hazelbeaumont sandbedriverdynamicscontrollingmicroplasticflux AT annieockelford sandbedriverdynamicscontrollingmicroplasticflux AT phillmorrissimpson sandbedriverdynamicscontrollingmicroplasticflux |