Microplastic deposition velocity in streams follows patterns for naturally occurring allochthonous particles.

ABSTRACT: Accumulation of plastic litter is accelerating worldwide. Rivers are a source of microplastic (i.e., particles <5 mm) to oceans, but few measurements of microplastic retention in rivers exist. We adapted spiraling metrics used to measure particulate organic matter transport to quantify microplastic deposition using an outdoor experimental stream. We conducted replicated pulse releases of three common microplastics: polypropylene pellets, polystyrene fragments, and acrylic fibers, repeating measurements using particles with and without biofilms. Depositional velocity (v_dep; mm/s) patterns followed expectations based on density and biofilm 'stickiness', where v_dep was highest for fragments, intermediate for fibers, and lowest for pellets, with biofilm colonization gener

SUBMITTER: Hoellein TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6403300 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature