Microplastics are recognised to be one of the most prolific and widespread environmental contaminants today, found worldwide across all environmental compartments. Despite growing research in this field, we still have insufficient understanding of the factors influencing the distribution of microplastics in the environment. It is known that the shape, size and polymer type will significantly influence particle behaviour within water. However, importantly, there are many processes that will further influence the degradation and transformation of microplastics throughout aquatic systems. Physical processes will facilitate the horizontal and vertical transport of microplastics within the water, for example flooding, tides, currents, upwelling and downwelling. Additionally, ecological interactions can significantly influence the behaviour and fate of microplastics, for example by changing their density and physical characteristics as a result of incorporation into faecal pellets, organic aggregate formation and biofilm development.
This session specifically aims to investigate the processes that influence the behaviour, fate and flux of microplastics in freshwater and marine systems. Presentations will cover, for example, biofilms, organic or inorganic aggregate formation, ingestion and egestion of microplastics by aquatic organisms, biodegradable plastics, physical transport processes and process-based models.