SSP1.4 | How could it get any worse? The ecotoxic legacy of plastic pollution and the role of plastic transport and distribution, fragmentation, degradation, and leaching of chemical additives
EDI
How could it get any worse? The ecotoxic legacy of plastic pollution and the role of plastic transport and distribution, fragmentation, degradation, and leaching of chemical additives
Co-organized by ERE1/OS4, co-sponsored by IAS
Convener: Florian Pohl | Co-conveners: Lars Hildebrandt, Francesca De Falco, Catherine Russell, Elda Miramontes
Orals
| Fri, 28 Apr, 14:00–15:20 (CEST)
 
Room -2.31
Posters on site
| Attendance Fri, 28 Apr, 10:45–12:30 (CEST)
 
Hall X3
Posters virtual
| Attendance Fri, 28 Apr, 10:45–12:30 (CEST)
 
vHall SSP/GM
Orals |
Fri, 14:00
Fri, 10:45
Fri, 10:45
Despite increasing public awareness about global plastic pollution and rising concerns about associated ecotoxicological risks, the annual amount of plastic waste released into natural environments continues to increase drastically. Proceeding pollution inevitably leads to spreading and accumulation of plastics through any sedimentary system, which is why plastics have been detected in almost every environment and natural habitat on Earth. To fully grasp the magnitude of the global plastic pollution problem and time scales associated with ecotoxicological consequences, we need to understand where plastic waste accumulates and how plastic items have been fragmented, depredated, and altered along their pathway. This includes a fundamental understanding of hydrodynamic transport processes including plastic-sediment interactions, as well as leaching processes of different types of plastics under various environmental conditions.

- Occurrence and spatial distribution of plastic waste in the environment
- Transport, deposition, and burial of plastics
- Fragmentation and degradation of plastics
- Leaching of chemical additives from plastics
- Toxicological studies on plastics or on chemical additives release from plastics
- Studies on the interaction between plastic and natural materials such as sediments
- Advanced analytical workflows suitable for the time-efficient and accurate analysis of small microplastics in sediments

Orals: Fri, 28 Apr | Room -2.31

Chairpersons: Florian Pohl, Lars Hildebrandt
14:00–14:10
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EGU23-4586
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Soeun Eo, Sang Hee Hong, Young Kyoung Song, Youna Cho, Gi Myung Han, and Won Joon Shim

Seafloor sediment is an important sink for microplastics, and vertical profile of microplastic accumulation in a sediment core can provide historical pollution trend. However, microplastic pollution in coastal sediment has not been addressed well, and a few studies have investigated the trends of microplastic pollution in age-dated core sediments. In this study, the microplastics in surface sediments in urban, aquafarm and reference areas of South Korea were analyzed to evaluate the pollution characteristics of microplastic according to different sea area use patterns. In addition, the historical trend of microplastic pollution was investigated in core sediments in the urban and aquafarm areas. The abundance of microplastics in surface sediment were in order of urban area (6,887 ± 6,100 particles/kg d.w.), aquafarm area (5,121 ± 2,428 particles/kg d.w.), and reference area (2,474 ± 522 particles/kg d.w.). Polymer types were diverse in the urban area, and expanded polystyrene used for buoys was dominant in the aquafarm area. Fragment type microplastic was dominant in all three areas, and the proportion of fiber was higher in urban and aquafarm areas than in reference area. The polymer composition of fiber was different in urban (polyester 51% and polypropylene (PP) 29%) and aquafarm areas (PP 84% and polyamide 13%). These results support that the characteristics of microplastic pollution well reflect the sea area use patterns. Historical trend of microplastic pollution has increased since the 1980s and the increasing rate steeply increased around the early and mid-2000s in both the core samples. Their increasing trend reflected the influence of population or surrounding input sources (i.e. effluent discharge amount of a wastewater treatment plant). The clear increasing trend of historical microplastic pollution up to now indicates that more efforts is highly required to reduce the microplastic pollution. 

How to cite: Eo, S., Hong, S. H., Song, Y. K., Cho, Y., Han, G. M., and Shim, W. J.: Spatial distribution and historical trend of microplastic pollution in sediments from enclosed bays of South Korea, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-4586, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-4586, 2023.

14:10–14:20
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EGU23-4405
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Highlight
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On-site presentation
Stefan Krause, Uwe Schneidewind, Mohammad Wazne, Anna Kukkola, Iseult Lynch, Lee Haverson, Liam Kelleher, Grace Davies, Andre-Marie Dendievel, Brice Mourier, Florian Mermillod-Blondin, Zoraida Quiñones-Rivera, Laurent Simon, Julia Reiss, Dan Perkins, Anne Robertson, and Jesus Gomez-Velez

Increasing volumes of mismanaged plastic waste have resulted in millions of tons of plastics entering the environment. While recent research has made substantial progress in determining the fate and transport of microplastics (MP) in river systems and their subsequent discharge to the worlds oceans, much less is known about the subsurface fate of MP as they enter soils, (riverine) sediments and global groundwater resources. Initial studies have identified MP in selected groundwater samples and there is great interest to understand entry pathyways of MPs into soils, in particular through agricultural pathways. The mechanisms of MP release from agricultural sources such as seed and agrochemical encapsulations or sewage sludges as well as the total quantity, spatial distribution, residence time scales as well as the impact of MP on soils and subsequently groundwater ecosystems are completely unknown. There is hence a critical need to study the role of soils and groundwater systems as a long-term sink for plastic pollution, including the development of legacy risks.

Here we identify the significance of various entry pathways for MP into subsurface ecosystems, integrating experimental and model based quantifications of MP transport through streambed sediments with quantifications of MP inputs into agricultural soils through irrigation with river water. We present first results of MP impacts on the functioning of subsurface ecosystem services, by the particular example of MP exposure impacts on the behaviour of bioturbating invertebrates and the subsequent consequences for sediment biogeochemical cycling in order to draw attention to the potential risks for vital soil and groundwater ecosystem services.

We complement this site specific mechanistic process understanding with global estimates of mismanaged plastic waste accumulation in river basins to quantify MP catchment wide loads available for leakage into soils and present first results of our recently started participatory approach that aims to develop a baseline of MP pollution in aquifers across the world. Such baseline data is imperative to increase our understanding of MP fate and transport processes, MP uptake by groundwater organisms and the interaction of MP with nutrients and potential co-contaminants. Our specifically tailored protocol allows for standardized MP sampling in boreholes, springs or wells across a wide range of geological settings and land cover classes. We invite and encourage the community to contribute to this global effort in order to enable estimates of the magnitude and expected time scales of soil and groundwater MP contamination.

How to cite: Krause, S., Schneidewind, U., Wazne, M., Kukkola, A., Lynch, I., Haverson, L., Kelleher, L., Davies, G., Dendievel, A.-M., Mourier, B., Mermillod-Blondin, F., Quiñones-Rivera, Z., Simon, L., Reiss, J., Perkins, D., Robertson, A., and Gomez-Velez, J.: The Plastic Underground: Are Microplastics in the Subsurface a Ticking Time Bomb for Soil and Groundwater Ecosystems?, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-4405, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-4405, 2023.

14:20–14:30
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EGU23-1477
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Andreas Cramer, Pascal Benard, Kaestner Anders, Mohsen Zarebanadkouki, and Andrea Carminati

Soil is considered the largest sink of microplastics (MP) in terrestrial ecosystems. Among the expected effects of MP as hydrophobic surface addition is the likelihood that MP enhances soil water repellency. So, crucial for MP fate in soils is the interaction between MP and water. If MP is translocated by water flow and, vice versa, MP impacts water flow, to what extent? Water flow on the pore scale will be impacted with feedbacks on transport and retention of MP. However, we don’t know the extent of and conditions under which MP are transported through porous media and, if deposited, how they interplay with soil water dynamics. We hypothesize that: (i) isolated MP are displaced and translocated by air-water interfaces and (ii) local accumulation of MP is facilitated by bypassing water flow. To approach this question, neutron and x-ray imaging of MP and water in soils was utilized.

Dual neutron and x-ray imaging at the beamlines ICON (Paul-Scherrer-Institute) during repeated wetting-drying cycles was applied to trace MP-water interactions in aluminum cylinders filled with sand (0.7-1.2 mm) and MP (PET, 20-75 µm) in gravimetric contents of 0.35, 1.05 and 2.10%. The contents refer to static contact angle estimations of the mixtures resembling < 90°, 90° and > 90°. First, simultaneous neutron and x-ray tomography captured the initial dry MP configuration in samples. Subsequently, neutron radiographies of deuterated water flow through the sample of 1 ml min-1 were recorded for 200s. After drying, repeated tomography gave insights into MP translocation.

Neutron and x-ray imaging results showed that regions of major MP content are water repellent. Water flow bypasses and MP is mainly retained. Resultant air entrapments lead to reduced water contents. In regions of minor MP content water can infiltrate. Here, the air-water interface collects isolated MP and shifts their distribution towards an enhanced accumulation.

Extrapolation of these results to natural soil systems suggests that vertical transport of MP can be limited especially at hotspots of high MP contents. Water bypasses here. This might limit the water dependent degradation processes of MP due to reductions in hydrolysis, coating and colonization by microorganisms even elongating the process of natural attenuation.

How to cite: Cramer, A., Benard, P., Anders, K., Zarebanadkouki, M., and Carminati, A.: Microplastic Interaction with Soil Water - Visualization and Quantification with Neutron and X-ray Imaging, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-1477, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-1477, 2023.

14:30–14:40
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EGU23-5676
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Yan Zhang, Yanting Wang, Xiaogang Chen, Peiyuan Zhu, Siyuan Jing, and Ling Li

Plastic has greatly changed modern society, and it has become an indispensable material in our daily lives. Microplastics are now regarded as the serious environmental threats due to the management limitations. Saltmarshes are one of the most productive ecosystems on earth and a high-efficiency blue carbon sink. As an emerging contaminant, the load, transport and fate of microplastics are largely neglected in saltmarshes. Here, we firstly measured the mass concentration of microplastics in the sediment cores of a multi-species saltmarsh by pressurized liquid extraction and modified double-shot pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major microplastics in saltmarsh sediments were polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP). The microplastic mass concentration in the sediment of Scirpus mariqueter was greater than Phragmites australis and mudflat. As artificial carbon, carbon content of microplastics accounts for 1.15% of total organic carbon. Overall, the results suggest that saltmarsh vegetation can efficiently drive the microplastic settling and retention. Therefore, the microplastic distribution characteristics in saltmarsh can be effected by the vegetation types and their distribution pattern.

How to cite: Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Chen, X., Zhu, P., Jing, S., and Li, L.: Microplastic distribution characteristics and storage in a multi-species saltmarsh, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-5676, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-5676, 2023.

14:40–14:50
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EGU23-10534
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Karla B Parga Martinez, Thorbjørn J Andersen, Vitor da Silva, Jakob Strand, and Nicole R Posth

Glacimarine sediment results from glaciers weathering the rock exporting silt and clay into the ocean. Such fine sediments are also exported from the Greenlandic Ice Sheet where new sources of plastic pollution like seasonal ice thawing may be releasing microplastics (MP) back to the environment. MP could be then transported to the seafloor via sediment burial and incorporated into the layers of the geological record. However, the purification and extraction of MP from such a fine-grain matrix is challenging, as the small grains remain in suspension and can form aggregates. In order to look for a footprint of the Anthropocene in Greenland, a sediment core was analyzed to generate a record of MP by comparing a pre- and post-plastic boom period. Using 210Pb and 137Cs dating, the chronology was established from 1861 to 2015 ±5 yrs bridging the plastic boom of the 1950s. Using a 4-step methodology developed for fine-grain matrices, MP particles were characterized via FT-IR imaging. QC/QA protocols were applied throughout the process to reduce the risk of contamination. More than 1000 particles were found in total ranging from 20 µm to 600 µm and going as far back as 1930. Nine polymer types were found, the most common being PE and PP accounting for 84% of all particles. This is the first sediment record of MP pollution in the Arctic, which shows that once thought pristine regions have in fact being polluted for a long time, which in turn implies that the impact might be greater than previously thought. In addition, this long-term accumulation in Greenlandic marine sediment could be compared to global horizons in the search for markers of the Anthropocene.

How to cite: Parga Martinez, K. B., Andersen, T. J., da Silva, V., Strand, J., and Posth, N. R.: Greenland in the Anthropocene: an archive of microplastic pollution, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-10534, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-10534, 2023.

14:50–15:00
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EGU23-14119
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Robert Houseago, Freija Mendrik, Christopher Hackney, and Daniel Parsons

Biodiverse coastal ecosystems are vulnerable to microplastic (<5 mm) pollution due to inputs from riverine and shoreline sources which pose ecological threats and have repercussions for social ecosystem services. These ecosystems may contain an aquatic canopy covering the bed, such as seagrass meadows or coral reefs that can trap particles. Despite field measurements revealing the accumulation of plastic debris in a variety of aquatic canopies, the transport and dispositional processes that drive microplastic trapping within such canopies is barely understood. Here, we investigate for the first time the prevalence of biofilmed microplastic retention by sparse and dense branching coral canopies in a hydraulic flume under unidirectional flow. Corals were replicated through 3D-printing using a scan of a staghorn coral Acropora genus, a branching coral that encompasses one-fifth of extant reef-building corals, globally.

Trapping mechanisms by coral canopies were identified, and include: a) interception of particles with the coral acting as a barrier and microplastics and settling to the bed; b) settling of microplastics on the branches or within the structure of the coral and c) accumulation in the downstream region of individual corals. Trapping efficiency was found to depend on bulk velocity and canopy density, with up to 99% of microplastics retained across the duration of the experiments. Surprisingly, sparse reefs may be as vulnerable to microplastic trapping and contamination as denser canopies under certain flow velocities, with the latter found to retain only up to 18% more microplastics than in sparser conditions. Flow velocity profiles provide insights into the relationships between canopy hydrodynamics and microplastic trapping and distribution. The results indicate coral reefs may form areas of accumulation for microplastic pollution through their observed high trapping efficiency that may otherwise have been transported greater distances.

How to cite: Houseago, R., Mendrik, F., Hackney, C., and Parsons, D.: Transport and trapping of microplastics in coral reefs: a physical experimental investigation, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-14119, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-14119, 2023.

15:00–15:10
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EGU23-9164
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ECS
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Highlight
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On-site presentation
Tim van Emmerik, Roy Frings, Louise Schreyers, Rahel Hauk, Sjoukje de Lange, and Yvette Mellink

Plastic mobilization, transport, and retention dynamics are influenced by hydrological processes and river catchment features (e.g. land-use, vegetation, and river morphology). Increased river discharge has been associated with higher plastic transport rates, although the exact relation between the two can vary over time and space. The precise role of an extreme discharge event on plastic transport is however still unknown. Here, we show that fluvial floods drive floating macroplastic transport and accumulation in river systems. We collected observational evidence during the (return period of 200 years) along the Dutch part of the Meuse. Upstream plastic transport multiplied by a factor of over 100 compared to non-flood conditions (3.3x105 vs 2.3x102), making the Meuse . Over one-third of the annual plastic transport was estimated to occur within the six-day period of extreme discharge (>3,200 m3/s). Towards the river mouth, plastic transport during the flood decreased by 90%, suggesting that the Plastic transport and accumulation on the riverbanks decreased significantly along the river, corroborating the river's function as a plastic reservoir, rather than conduit for plastic towards the ocean. We demonstrate the crucial role of floods as drivers of plastic transport and accumulation in river systems. Floods amplify the mobilization of plastics, but the effects are local and the river-scale dispersion is limited. We anticipate that our findings serve as a starting point for improving global estimates of river plastic transport, retention, and export into the sea. Moreover, our results provide essential insights for future large-scale and long-term quantitative assessments of river plastic pollution. Reliable observations and a fundamental understanding of plastic transport are key to designing effective prevention and reduction strategies.

 

Link to preprint

Tim van Emmerik, Roy Frings, Louise Schreyers et al. River plastic during floods: Amplified mobilization, limited river-scale dispersion, 08 August 2022, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square [https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1909246/v1]

How to cite: van Emmerik, T., Frings, R., Schreyers, L., Hauk, R., de Lange, S., and Mellink, Y.: River plastic during floods: Amplified mobilization, limited river-scale dispersion, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-9164, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-9164, 2023.

15:10–15:20
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EGU23-16232
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On-site presentation
Maarten Van Daele, Ben Van Bastelaere, Maaike Vercauteren, Inka Meyer, and Jana Asselman

Following the discovery of microplastics (MPs) in river sediments, the number of MP studies on rivers and other freshwater systems has increased rapidly, revealing that MPs are omnipresent in all freshwater environments. The abundance of MPs in freshwater sediments seems to be affected by population density, urban centers, water flow velocity, water catchment size and position and type of sewage and waste management. However, not all of these relations are consistent. For example, while many studies report good correlations between MP source regions (highly populated and industrialized areas) and MP abundance in river sediments, others do not. This is in contrast to the concentrations in the water itself, for which better links with MP source areas were found. What all these studies have in common, is their large-scale approach, in which sediment samples are obtained over distances of tens to thousands of kilometers along the river; and at each site sediments are than retrieved either from the deepest part of the channel or from the river bank (depending on the study). Here, we study MP distribution in a section of the meandering Leie River, in a rural area, a few kilometers upstream of the city of Ghent (Belgium). Multibeam bathymetry and side-scan sonar images allowed selecting three undisturbed across-channel transects where surface sediments were retrieved. Sediment samples were analyzed for MP content, organic-matter content and grain size of the clastic fraction. Overall the MP concentrations are much (up to an order of magnitude) lower in the thalweg compared to samples near the river banks, resulting in an asymmetric distribution at the bend apex, where the thalweg approaches the outer banks. Furthermore, MP concentrations show strong correlations with the organic matter content and grain-size parameters as expected form hydrodynamic sorting. Exceptions to these correlations are the outer bank samples, where MP concentrations are lower than predicted from sedimentological characteristics. We attribute this to the more erosive character of the current in the thalweg near the outer banks, which inhibits MP deposition, but exposes fine-grained and organic-rich flood plain sediments. We highlight that the different hydrodynamic conditions across a river channel greatly influence MP distribution (with an order of magnitude), but in a sedimentologically predictable manner. Care should thus be taken in environmental studies, as local variability in MP concentration across a river bed may be larger then the large-scale variability.

How to cite: Van Daele, M., Van Bastelaere, B., Vercauteren, M., Meyer, I., and Asselman, J.: Depositional patterns of microplastics in a meandering river: a case study of the Leie River, Belgium, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-16232, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-16232, 2023.

Posters on site: Fri, 28 Apr, 10:45–12:30 | Hall X3

Chairpersons: Florian Pohl, Lars Hildebrandt
X3.91
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EGU23-2560
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ECS
Lenka Cermakova, Katerina Novotna, and Martin Pivokonsky

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging globally distributed pollutants of aquatic environments. Nowadays, MPs are being detected in seas, oceans and freshwater bodies worldwide, even in very remote areas. Studies have reported also the occurrence of MPs in potable water. Despite the potential adverse effects on human health are still largely unknown, the presence of MPs in drinking water deserves more attention. Besides the need for elimination of MPs in natural environments, it is necessary to focus also on their fate and removability at drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) that pose a barrier for MPs to enter water for human consumption. In our study, we decided to provide unique insight into the occurrence of MPs at two different DWTPs situated on the same river but differing in treatment technology. Quantification and characterization of MPs ≥ 1 μm was conducted not only in raw and treated water but also after each technological treatment step. The results showed that the content of MPs varied greatly between the DWTPs. There were 23 ± 2 and 14 ± 1 MPs L−1 in raw and treated water, respectively, at the upstream DWTP. By contrast, 1296 ± 35 and 151 ± 4 MPs L−1 were found in raw and treated water, respectively, at the downstream DWTP. The majority (>70%) of MPs were smaller than 10 μm, and irregular fragment shape prevailed over fibres. Cellulose acetate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polypropylene were the most frequently occurring materials. Total removal of MPs of 88% was achieved at the DWTP with a higher initial MP number and more complicated treatment technology consisting of coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation, deep-bed filtration through clay-based material, and granular activated carbon adsorption. These steps contributed to MP elimination by 62%, 20%, and 6%, respectively. These results contribute to filling the knowledge gap regarding the removability of different types of MPs by distinct drinking water treatment technologies operating under ordinary conditions.

How to cite: Cermakova, L., Novotna, K., and Pivokonsky, M.: Investigating microplastics at two drinking water treatment plants within a river catchment, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-2560, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-2560, 2023.

X3.92
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EGU23-2670
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ECS
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Tereza Pavlíková, David Pavlík, Jan Divíšek, and Daniel Nývlt

Microplastics have been found in various places, including not only densely populated areas of China or Germany but also remote high-altitude places like the Himalayas or the Pyrenees. However, the remoteness of a place is not determined only by its altitude. The Outer Hebrides (Scotland), with a low population and minimum industry, are remote in terms of direct pollution. This study aims to analyse the occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics in soils of the Outer Hebrides to discover the factors driving the abundance of microplastics and to find how much more or less are remote Scottish soils polluted with microplastics than inland soils of populated areas.

In the Isle of South Uist, 123 topsoil samples were collected along the western coastline and in four transects through the isle in the west-east direction. In total, 63 samples were analysed using an optical microscope to quantify the plastic microfibres visually using a semi-automatic algorithm. The amounts of microfibres were statistically processed, and their distribution was modelled for the entire archipelago.

More microplastics are present in inland soils with loamy soil texture, denser vegetation and denser roots (median = 36,900 microfibres/L) than in coastal soils with sandy soil texture, sparse vegetation and low root density (median = 3,580 microfibres/L). Their abundance is mainly influenced by soil texture, vegetation density, and root density.

With the south-western prevailing wind direction, we assume that most microfibres enter the island from the Atlantic Ocean, and the wind transports the microfibres inland to the east. Wind deflates the microfibres from coastal soils, and microfibres are deposited in inland soils. The inland soils are less susceptible to wind erosion, and the microfibres accumulate there.

Thus, the remoteness of the Outer Hebrides does not guarantee low microplastic pollution. Contrarily, the Hebridean soils are extensively more polluted than most so far studied sites. The level of pollution is comparable to only a few studies where the abundance of microplastics in the soils is similar, e.g. Beijing (China), Lower Rhine basin (Germany) or Coimbra (Portugal). However, these sites are much more populated and interconnected, which suggests a great contribution of microplastic pollution from Atlantic Ocean and a great magnitude of wind transport processes in the Outer Hebrides.

How to cite: Pavlíková, T., Pavlík, D., Divíšek, J., and Nývlt, D.: Soil susceptibility to wind erosion drives the abundance of microplastics in remote Scottish soils, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-2670, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-2670, 2023.

X3.93
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EGU23-2997
Chihhao Fan and You-Yi Lee

Since plastics were first made in the early 20 century, global plastic production has increased dramatically and annual plastic use reached 460 million metric tons (Mt) in 2019. Although the advent of plastics creates miraculous economic achievements, it brings about severe pollution at the same time. As the life cycle of plastic use worldwide is still in linear form, mismanaged plastic waste might break into microplastics and accumulate in the environment. Rivers are the main route by which plastics enter the ocean. The process may take years or decades for microplastics to reach the ocean. The ocean surface currents were responsible for the transport of plastic waste and the ocean is its ultimate destination. This study correlated the fate of marine microplastics with economic growth under the influence of climate change. Taking 1960 as a benchmark, the trend of world GDP growth coincided with the growth of annual plastic production, indicating that economic growth heavily relies on plastic-related industries. Plastics emit a high amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) through their life span, enhancing the negative impact of climate change, causing the faster weathering process to form microplastics, and further enabling the leakage into the aquatic environment. According to the OECD statistics, 1.7 Mt of plastics entered the ocean system in 2019, reaching the total accumulation of 30 Mt of plastic waste since 1970. Global warming over past decades enhances the Earth's ocean currents which induced the acceleration of ocean plastic distribution. The accelerated ocean transportation may increase plastic accumulation at the garbage patches within five gyres and the Arctic Ocean which are ultimate sinks for plastic waste in the ocean. The abundance of microplastics in the ocean interferes with the carbon fixation capacity of the ocean, forming a nexus implication between climate change, ocean currents, and marine plastic redistribution. The accumulation of marine microplastic is suggested to be a factor in aggravating the impact of climate change. To deal with the dilemma, economic growth should be decoupled with the massive use of plastic utilization to reduce plastic production and GHG emission. Moreover, higher plastic waste recycling is urgently needed to prevent extra microplastics from entering the ocean.

How to cite: Fan, C. and Lee, Y.-Y.: The circularity of marine microplastics under the influence of climate change, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-2997, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-2997, 2023.

X3.94
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EGU23-6323
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ECS
Shudan Xue, Kate Spencer, and Stuart Grieve

Impacts of climate change – sea level rise, more frequent storms and coastal flooding will exacerbate coastal erosion, resulting in the erosion of coastal historic landfills. These historic landfills are particularly vulnerable to such erosion as they typically have no lining or leachate management, limited information of the proportion and/or types of waste mixtures they contain and inaccurate records of their location and waste volumes. There are over 1200 coastal historic landfills in England alone, and over 10,000 such sites are at risk of release both solid waste and soluble contaminants across Europe. The contaminated matrix and solid wastes make landfills a major sink and source of microplastics and heavy metal, posing a threat to the coastal and marine environment.

We investigated heavy metal and microplastic pollution on the beach and foreshore in three coastal historic eroding landfills, East Tilbury (n = 32 samples), Lynemouth (n = 33 samples), Northam Burrows Tilbury (n = 33 samples), UK. Samples were collected every 50 meters along the shoreline, with 100g of surface soil from the landfill edge, and 1kg of beach and intertidal sediment collected from each transect. The metal concertation was measured with handheld X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). Microplastics were density separated with a zinc chloride solution (1.5 g cm−3), after the samples were dried and digested with hydrogen peroxide. The extracted microplastics were recorded under stereomicroscope at 50× magnification with a digital camera, and characterized with Fourier-transformed infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy.

This study is one of the first few to investigate the impacts of eroding historic landfill. Our preliminary findings suggest that eroding landfill are releasing significant amounts of microplastics and heavy metal pollution. These findings will be crucial to assess the impacts of eroding landfills, identify solutions and raise public attention to this environmental problem.

How to cite: Xue, S., Spencer, K., and Grieve, S.: The impacts of climate change on eroding coastal historic landfills, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-6323, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-6323, 2023.

X3.95
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EGU23-11173
Won Joon Shim, Yu Lee Jang, Soeun Eo, Jongwook Jeong, Song Yong Ha, Gi Myung Han, and Sang Hee Hong

A visual survey using a vessel is a representative method to assess the degree of pollution of floating plastic debris in marine environments. However, the visual survey may more easily miss plastic items on and just below water (e.g. plastic bags) than above water (e.g. PET bottles). In addition, there are very limited comparison studies for floating plastic debris on the water surface and suspended plastic debris in the water column. None of the studies quantitatively determined the difference in detection rate by visual and surface trawl surveys. The aim of this study is to evaluate what could be relatively missed and underestimated by surface water visual surveys.

Floating plastic debris was monitored by visual and trawl surveys (depth of 0.5 m) in three coastal areas (rural area, GJ; aquafarm area, JH; urban and near river mouth area, SY) of Korea over the four seasons in 2022. In addition, during the visual survey of floating plastic debris in a fishing area (GH), near the river mouth of Han River, a shrimp beam trawl was used to collect plastic debris in the water column (water depth of 10 m) except for thin surface and bottom layer over three seasons in 2022. The seasonal patterns and composition of floating plastic debris in the surface water of JH, GJ, and SY were similar between the visual and trawl surveys. But, the mean densities of most plastics obtained from trawl surveys were 3 to 7 times higher than those from visual surveys. In particular, it was hard to detect small-sized, submerged, or dark-colored fishing gear with the visual survey. Patches with small items can increase the uncertainty of the visual survey. Therefore, visual surveys may underestimate the amount of marine plastic debris above and just below the water.

Various types of floating plastic debris were observed by visual survey in the surface water of GH: plastic bags/sheets (54%), expanded polystyrene pieces (18%), plastic containers (4%), strapping (3%), plastic bottles/caps (3%), discarded fishing gear (1%), and other hard plastic pieces (14%). In the water column of GH, however, plastic bags/sheets (93%) predominated and followed by strapping (4%), discarded fishing gear (1%), and other plastics (1%). These results indicate that plastic bags/sheets and strapping would mainly submerge in the water column, but expanded polystyrene pieces, plastic containers, plastic bottles/caps, and other hard plastic pieces are more likely to float rather than sink. Thus, the application of only visual surveys for plastic pollution monitoring in water may largely miss and underestimate the plastic items transported on and below water such as plastic bags and sheets.

How to cite: Shim, W. J., Jang, Y. L., Eo, S., Jeong, J., Ha, S. Y., Han, G. M., and Hong, S. H.: Comparison Studies for Surface Water Visual Survey and Surface and Water-Column Trawl for Floating and Suspended Marine Plastic Debris, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-11173, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-11173, 2023.

X3.96
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EGU23-14286
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ECS
Freija Mendrik, Christopher Hackney, Vivien Cumming, Nguyen Hung, Sebastian Hennige, and Daniel Parsons

Despite microplastic pollution now being ubiquitous in natural environments, there remains several unknowns in terms of which zones may act as microplastics sinks. Coral reefs are the most ecologically diverse marine ecosystem, supporting 25% of all ocean species, and have high socio-economic value, offering ecosystem services such as coastal protection and tourism. However, the average cover of tropical reefs has declined by 50-75% in nearly all global regions over the last 30-40 years due to a range of anthropogenic stressors. There is growing evidence that coral reefs can entrap plastics and that microplastic (>5 mm) pollution threatens coral physiology. However, there is a lack of understanding as to the occurrence, accumulation, spatial distribution and impacts of microplastic pollution on coral ecosystems. It is, therefore, necessary that more research is undertaken within coral reefs to understand microplastic contamination levels and ensure effective mitigation measures are in place.

The islands of Con Dao, Vietnam, are 90 km from the Mekong Delta coast and are a designated national park, with a 14,000 ha marine protected area that conserves endangered wildlife and a diverse range of coral that support hundreds of fish species. Although considered pristine, Con Dao it is influenced by the Mekong River, which is one of the top contributors to marine plastic waste worldwide, posing an increasing risk to this biodiversity hotspot. Understanding the volumes and impacts of microplastic pollution in this area will allow insight into the levels of exposure and risk coral reefs in Southeast Asia, including the highly biodiverse Coral Triangle, have from increasing plastic pollution.Here, the occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics in water and sand samples from Con Dao is presented. Reef health is also provided through photogrammetry whereby 3D reconstruction of reef sites allows analysis of coral cover and diversity, in addition to structural complexity, which is strongly correlated to reef health indicators including biodiversity, especially within tropical reef ecosystems. Potential sources of microplastics are also discussed through polymer identification by FT-IR analysis.

How to cite: Mendrik, F., Hackney, C., Cumming, V., Hung, N., Hennige, S., and Parsons, D.: Paradise lost: Microplastic pollution on a remote coral island, Vietnam, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-14286, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-14286, 2023.

X3.97
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EGU23-12344
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ECS
Florian Pohl, Lars Hildebrandt, Joey O’Dell, Peter Talling, Megan Baker, Fadi El Gareb, Jacopo La Nasa, Francesca De Falco, Marco Mattonai, Sean Ruffell, Joris Eggenhuisen, Francesca Modugno, Daniel Proefrock, Ed Pope, Ricardo Silva Jacinto, Maarten Heijnen, Sophie Hage, Stephen Simmons, Martin Hasenhündl, and Catharina Heerema

The increasing plastic pollution of the world’s oceans represents a serious threat to marine ecosystems and has become a well-known topic garnering growing public attention. The global input of plastic waste into the oceans is estimated to be approximately 10 million tons per year and predicted to rise by one order of magnitude by 2025. More than 90% of the plastic that enters the oceans is thought to end up on the seafloor, and seafloor sediment samples show that plastics are concentrated in confined morphologies and sedimentary environments such as submarine canyons. These canyons are occasionally flushed by powerful gravity-driven sediment flows called turbidity currents, which transport vast volumes of sediment to the deep sea and deposit sediment in deep-sea fans. As such, turbidity currents may also transport plastics present in the canyon and bury plastics in deep-sea fans. These fans may therefore act as sinks for seafloor plastics. Here we present a comprehensive dataset showing the spatial distribution of microplastics in seafloor sediments from the Congo Canyon, offshore West Africa. Multicores taken from 16 locations along the canyon, sampled different sedimentary sub-environments including the canyon thalweg, canyon terraces, and distal lobe. Microplastics were extracted from the sediments by density separation and the polymer type, size, and shape of all individual microplastic particles were analysed using laser-direct infrared-spectroscopy (LDIR). Microplastic number concentrations in the sediments of the distal lobe are significantly higher than in the canyon, indicating that the Congo Canyon system is a highly efficient conduit for microplastic transport to the deep sea. Moreover, microplastic concentrations of >20,000 particles per kg of dry sediment were recorded in the lobe, which represent some of the highest ever recorded microplastic number concentrations in seafloor sediments. This shows that deep-sea fans can serve as hotspots and potential terminal sinks for seafloor microplastics.

How to cite: Pohl, F., Hildebrandt, L., O’Dell, J., Talling, P., Baker, M., El Gareb, F., La Nasa, J., De Falco, F., Mattonai, M., Ruffell, S., Eggenhuisen, J., Modugno, F., Proefrock, D., Pope, E., Silva Jacinto, R., Heijnen, M., Hage, S., Simmons, S., Hasenhündl, M., and Heerema, C.: The submarine Congo Canyon as a conduit for microplastics to the deep sea, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-12344, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-12344, 2023.

X3.98
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EGU23-2559
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ECS
Katerina Novotna, Lenka Cermakova, and Martin Pivokonsky

The occurrence of microplastics (MPs) has been evidenced worldwide in various aquatic environments, and while quite many studies have been devoted to the quantification and characterisation of these MPs, the knowledge of potential leaching from MPs to water is yet limited. In the current study, a range of different MPs prepared from consumer plastic products were soaked in water for 12 weeks, and variable composition of the water leachates was continuously analysed. Majority of investigated MPs released substantial amounts of dissolved organic carbon, with the maximum of approximately 65 mg per g of MPs after the 12 weeks, and some MPs also released dissolved inorganic carbon. Additionally, up to 10 other elements were detected in individual leachates – including metals (Al, Ba, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Zn) and one metalloid (Si). Out of those, Ca, K, and Na occurred most frequently, while Ca reached the highest values (up to approximately 2.5 mg per g MPs). In general, the overall highest leaching was observed in the case of MPs comprising polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, and acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer as the main polymers. Another general observation is that the leaching was usually most rapid during the first few weeks of MP contact with water. Further, in order to provide a better insight into composition and properties of the leachates, non-target analysis was conducted, and dozens of chemical individuals were tentatively identified in the leachates. Considering that the amounts of some elements released from MPs were quite high, and that some of the tentatively identified compounds are considered harmful to human health and/or to the environment, the leaching from MPs to ambient water might be important from different perspectives, including toxicology as well as fluxes of carbon and metals.

How to cite: Novotna, K., Cermakova, L., and Pivokonsky, M.: Leaching of carbon, metals, and additives from microplastics to water, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-2559, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-2559, 2023.

Posters virtual: Fri, 28 Apr, 10:45–12:30 | vHall SSP/GM

Chairpersons: Florian Pohl, Lars Hildebrandt
vSG.8
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EGU23-14881
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ECS
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Róisín Coyle, Jennifer McKinley, Gary Hardiman, Matthew Service, and Ursula Witte

Microplastics (mPs), defined as plastic particles that are less in 5mm in size, are ubiquitous within the marine environment. They are difficult to remove from natural water streams and persist for long periods of time, breaking down into continually smaller particles. Since the diversity of organisms that can ingest plastic particles increases as the particle size decreases, microplastics have been identified as an emerging contaminant of concern in the marine environment and the determination of the potential ecological harm caused by mPs is a key objective of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD 2008/56/EC). However, the completion of a comprehensive risk assessment of this marine pollutant is prevented by the current lack of consensus on the processes influencing mP transport, uptake and exchange in the marine environment. For example, the processes driving the transport of mPs with buoyant polymers to the deepest part of the ocean are surrounded in uncertainty. The potential for mPs to accumulate within organisms and consequently the significance of trophic transfer as an uptake route for mPs is also unclear, particularly at lower trophic levels where contrasting arguments have formed on the risk of trophic transfer of mPs via zooplankton.

In this study, an integrated system of numerical models has been proposed to improve our understanding of mP processes in the marine environment by simulating the transport and ecosystem uptake and exchange of mPs at lower trophic levels in the northwest European continental shelf region. The continued refinement of the mathematical models will be presented, including the results of tests undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of empirical models for the calculation of the vertical settling velocity of irregularly-shaped particles from the perspective of mP transport modelling. Based on the current availability of data on mP distribution and uptake by lower trophic level organisms in the study area, the feasibility of model implementation will be examined as well as the significance of this research in providing information required by policy makers to complete risk assessment and implement suitable management strategies for marine mP pollution.

How to cite: Coyle, R., McKinley, J., Hardiman, G., Service, M., and Witte, U.: Modelling the Uptake and Exchange of Microplastics in Marine Ecosystems using a Novel, Integrated System of High-Resolution Numerical Models, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-14881, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-14881, 2023.