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Bakir A, McGoran AR, Silburn B, Russell J, Nel H, Lusher AL, Amos R, Shadrack RS, Arnold SJ, Castillo C, Urbina JF, Barrientos E, Sanchez H, Pillay K, Human L, Swartbooi T, Cordova MR, Sani SY, Wijesinghe TWAW, Amarathunga AAD, Gunasekara J, Somasiri S, Mahatantila K, Liyanage S, Müller M, Hee YY, Onda DF, Jansar KM, Shiraz Z, Amir H, Mayes AG. Creation of an international laboratory network towards global microplastics monitoring harmonisation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12714. [PMID: 38830923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62176-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Infrastructure is often a limiting factor in microplastics research impacting the production of scientific outputs and monitoring data. International projects are therefore required to promote collaboration and development of national and regional scientific hubs. The Commonwealth Litter Programme and the Ocean Country Partnership Programme were developed to support Global South countries to take actions on plastics entering the oceans. An international laboratory network was developed to provide the infrastructure and in country capacity to conduct the collection and processing of microplastics in environmental samples. The laboratory network was also extended to include a network developed by the University of East Anglia, UK. All the laboratories were provided with similar equipment for the collection, processing and analysis of microplastics in environmental samples. Harmonised protocols and training were also provided in country during laboratory setup to ensure comparability of quality-controlled outputs between laboratories. Such large networks are needed to produce comparable baseline and monitoring assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adil Bakir
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK.
| | - Alexandra R McGoran
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK
| | - Briony Silburn
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK
| | - Josie Russell
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK
| | - Holly Nel
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK
| | - Amy L Lusher
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), 0579, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ruth Amos
- Vanuatu Bureau of Standards, PO Box 6532, Port Vila, Vanuatu
| | | | - Shareen J Arnold
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Belize, Hummingbird Avenue, Belmopan City, Belize
| | - Cecy Castillo
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Belize, Hummingbird Avenue, Belmopan City, Belize
| | - Joaquin F Urbina
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Belize, Hummingbird Avenue, Belmopan City, Belize
| | - Eduardo Barrientos
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Belize, Hummingbird Avenue, Belmopan City, Belize
- Department of Marine Biosciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4 5-7, Konan, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan
| | - Henry Sanchez
- Department of Environment, 7552 Hummingbird Hwy, Belmopan City, Belize
| | - Keshnee Pillay
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DEFF), 2Nd Floor Foretrust Building, Martin Hammerschlag Way, Foreshore, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
| | - Lucienne Human
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Nelson Mandela University Ocean Sciences Campus, 4 Gomery Avenue, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- Botany Department, Institute of Coastal and Marine Research (CMR), Nelson Mandela University, Summerstrand South Campus, PO Box 77 000, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa
| | - Tarryn Swartbooi
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Nelson Mandela University Ocean Sciences Campus, 4 Gomery Avenue, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - Muhammad Reza Cordova
- Research Center for Oceanography, The Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Kawasan Jakarta Ancol Jl Pasir Putih 1 Ancol, Jakarta, 14430, Indonesia
| | - Sofia Yuniar Sani
- Research Center for Oceanography, The Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Kawasan Jakarta Ancol Jl Pasir Putih 1 Ancol, Jakarta, 14430, Indonesia
| | - T W A Wasantha Wijesinghe
- Central Environmental Authority, No 104, Parisara Piyasa, Densil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka
| | - A A Deeptha Amarathunga
- Environmental Studies Division, National Aquatic Resource Research & Development Agency, Crow Island, Colombo, 15, Sri Lanka
| | - Jagath Gunasekara
- Marine Environment Protection Authority, No.177, Nawala Road, Narahenpita, Colombo, 05, Sri Lanka
| | - Sudarshana Somasiri
- Industrial Technology Institute, No. 363, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo, 07, Sri Lanka
| | - Kushani Mahatantila
- Industrial Technology Institute, No. 363, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo, 07, Sri Lanka
| | - Sureka Liyanage
- Industrial Technology Institute, No. 363, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo, 07, Sri Lanka
| | - Moritz Müller
- Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Jalan Simpang Tiga, 93350, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Yet Yin Hee
- Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21300, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Deo Florence Onda
- Microbial Oceanography Laboratory, The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Khairiatul Mardiana Jansar
- Department of Earth Science and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Zana Shiraz
- Maldives Marine Research Institute, Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, H. White waves, Moonlight Hingun Magu, Male', 20025, Maldives
| | - Hana Amir
- Maldives Marine Research Institute, Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, H. White waves, Moonlight Hingun Magu, Male', 20025, Maldives
| | - Andrew G Mayes
- School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
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2
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Büngener L, Schäffer SM, Schwarz A, Schwalb A. Microplastics in a small river: Occurrence and influencing factors along the river Oker, Northern Germany. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2024; 264:104366. [PMID: 38759476 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2024.104366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Much attention regarding the environmental pollution by plastics had focused on the Oceans. More recently, contamination of freshwater ecosystems has been addressed but information from smaller rivers in moderately populated catchments is still comparatively scarce. This study explored the microplastic (MP) occurrence in the small regional river Oker, Northern Germany (catchment area 1822 km2, population of ca. 500,000, discharge approx. 12 m3 s-1). MPs (fibers and fragments in the size range 0.3-5 mm, identification by microscopy) were found in all 10 in-stream samples collected along the course of the river, ranging between 28 and 134 particles m-3 with an overall average of 63 particles m-3. This MP concentration found in the small river Oker is similar to, or higher than, that reported for larger rivers in similar environments in Central Europe. On average, higher MP concentration was found at urban (71 particles m-3) compared to rural sampling sites (51 particles m-3). Within the Oker catchment, in-stream MP concentration showed no or low correlation to the catchment-scale factors of catchment size and population. Additional samples taken from three locations directly influenced by discharges of potential MP point sources confirmed wastewater treatment plants of different capacities and an urban rainwater sewer as sources. Our results support findings that MP concentrations in small rivers are crucially influenced by local sources, superimposing linear relationships to factors of catchment size and -population. They show that even small rivers draining moderately populated catchments may exhibit comparatively high concentrations of MPs, and thereby represent underestimated pathways of MP in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Büngener
- Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Oulu, Finland.
| | - Sarah-Maria Schäffer
- Institute of Geosystems and Bioindication, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Anja Schwarz
- Institute of Geosystems and Bioindication, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Antje Schwalb
- Institute of Geosystems and Bioindication, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
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3
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Kukkola A, Schneidewind U, Haverson L, Kelleher L, Drummond JD, Sambrook Smith G, Lynch I, Krause S. Snapshot Sampling May Not Be Enough to Obtain Robust Estimates for Riverine Microplastic Loads. ACS ES&T WATER 2024; 4:2309-2319. [PMID: 38752202 PMCID: PMC11091885 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.4c00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been described as key contributors of microplastics (MPs) to aquatic systems, yet temporal fluctuations in MP concentrations and loads downstream are underexplored. This study investigated how different sampling frequencies (hourly, weekly, and monthly) affect MP estimates in a stream linked to a single WWTP. Utilizing fluorescence microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, considerable hourly variations in MP concentrations were discovered, while the polymer composition remained consistent. This temporal variability in MP loads was influenced by MP concentration, discharge rates, or a mix of both. These results show a high uncertainty, as relying on sparse snapshot samples combined with annual discharge data led to significant uncertainties in MP load estimates (over- and/or underestimation of emissions by 3.8 billion MPs annually at this site). Our findings stress the necessity of higher-frequency sampling for better comprehending the hydrodynamic factors influencing MP transport. This improved understanding enables a more accurate quantification of MP dynamics, crucial for downstream impact assessments. Therefore, preliminary reconnaissance campaigns are essential for designing extended, representative site-monitoring programs and ensuring more precise trend predictions on a larger scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kukkola
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Uwe Schneidewind
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Lee Haverson
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Liam Kelleher
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
- Institute
of Global Innovation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2SA, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer D. Drummond
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Gregory Sambrook Smith
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Iseult Lynch
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
- Institute
of Global Innovation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2SA, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Krause
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
- LEHNA
- Laboratoire d’ecologie des hydrosystemes naturels et anthropises, University of Lyon, Darwin C & Forel, 3-6 Rue Raphaël Dubois, 69622 Villeurbanne, France
- Institute
of Global Innovation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2SA, United Kingdom
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4
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Xu J, Wang Z. Intelligent classification and pollution characteristics analysis of microplastics in urban surface waters using YNet. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 467:133694. [PMID: 38330648 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs, ≤ 5 mm in size) are hazardous contaminants that pose threats to ecosystems and human health. YNet was developed to analyze MPs abundance and shape to gain insights into MPs pollution characteristics in urban surface waters. The study found that YNet achieved an accurate identification and intelligent classification performance, with a dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 90.78%, precision of 94.17%, and recall of 89.14%. Analysis of initial MPs levels in wetlands and reservoirs revealed 127.3 items/L and 56.0 items/L. Additionally, the MPs in effluents were 27.0 items/L and 26.3 items/L, indicating the ability of wetlands and reservoirs to retain MPs. The concentration of MPs in the lower reaches of the river was higher (45.6 items/L) compared to the upper reaches (22.0 items/L). The majority of MPs detected in this study were fragments, accounting for 51.63%, 54.94%, and 74.74% in the river, wetland, and reservoir. Conversely, granules accounted for the smallest proportion of MPs in the river, wetland, and reservoir, representing only 11.43%, 10.38%, and 6.5%. The study proves that the trained YNet accurately identify and intelligently classify MPs. This tool is essential in comprehending the distribution of MPs in urban surface waters and researching their sources and fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiongji Xu
- School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China.
| | - Zhaoli Wang
- School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China; Pazhou Lab, Guangzhou 510335, China.
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Jankauskas L, Pinho GLL, Sanz-Lazaro C, Casado-Coy N, Rangel DF, Ribeiro VV, Castro ÍB. Microplastic in clams: An extensive spatial assessment in south Brazil. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 201:116203. [PMID: 38422825 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution is becoming a continuously growing environmental concern, while bivalve mollusks are particularly vulnerable due to their sessile habits and feeding through water filtration processes. Microplastic incidence in soft tissues of the clam Amarilladesma mactroides was assessed along unconsolidated substrates distributed in extensive coastal regions of southern Brazil. Influence of urbanization levels, distance to rivers and local hydrodynamics on microplastic accumulation by the clam was tested. The average concentration of microplastics was high (3.09 ± 2.11 particles.g-1), considering 16 sampled sites. Particles were mainly composed by polyamide, polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate, while were mainly smaller, fibrous and colorless. High urbanization and closer proximity to rivers insured higher contamination, which is a trend observed globally. No influence of coastal hydrodynamics was seen. Considering obtained findings, A. mactroides presents good potential to be used as a valuable tool to assess microplastic contamination in unconsolidated substrates of beach areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Jankauskas
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos Sanz-Lazaro
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES), Universidad de Alicante, Spain
| | - Nuria Casado-Coy
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES), Universidad de Alicante, Spain
| | | | | | - Ítalo Braga Castro
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil; Instituto do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, Brazil.
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Chen H, Wang T, Ding Y, Yuan F, Zhang H, Wang C, Wang Y, Wang Y, Song Y, Fu G, Zou X. A catchment-wide microplastic pollution investigation of the Yangtze River: The pollution and ecological risk of tributaries are non-negligible. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 466:133544. [PMID: 38244455 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The Yangtze River is an important global channel for plastics and microplastics (MPs) to enter the sea. However, the existing research on MPs in the Yangtze River has primarily focused on the mainstream region, without regarding the occurrence, spatial distribution, and ecological risks associated with tributaries, as well as their relationship with the mainstream. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a large-scale catchment-wide investigation of the surface water in the Yangtze River, encompassing MPs (48 µm-5 mm) of the mainstream and 15 important tributaries. Tributaries and upstream regions exhibited relatively higher levels of MPs compared with the mainstream and different sections of the river. The distribution of MPs is primarily influenced by the emission of arable land and the pH of water. Notably, the upstream tributary areas demonstrated the highest ecological risks associated with MPs. Further analysis highlighted that the tributaries accounted for a contribution ranging from 16% to 67% in quantity and from 14% to 90% in mass of the microplastics observed in the mainstream. Our results suggest that the pollution of tributaries and their associated ecological risk migration must be effectively regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Chen
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of South China Sea Studies, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Teng Wang
- College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210013, China
| | - Yongcheng Ding
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Feng Yuan
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Hexi Zhang
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Chenglong Wang
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Yameng Wang
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Ying Wang
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Yuyang Song
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Guanghe Fu
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Xinqing Zou
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of South China Sea Studies, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
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7
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Mancini M, Francalanci S, Innocenti L, Solari L. Investigations on microplastic infiltration within natural riverbed sediments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:167256. [PMID: 37741401 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Several studies focused on the role of rivers as vectors of microplastics (MPs) towards the sea. It is well known that during their path through the fluvial environment, MPs interact with riverbed sediments; however, the main factors impacting the mobility of MPs within the upper part of the hyporheic zone are not clear yet. The present work investigates the role of different sediment size layers in affecting the mobility of the most common MP (Polyethylene terephthalate - PET - spheres, PET 3D-ellipsoids, polystyrene - PS - fragments and polyamide - PA - fibers) within sediment porous media under different hydraulic loads (HL) and time scales (t) conditions. Results indicated the relationship between the characteristic MP diameter and that of the grains as the main parameter for the MP infiltration into the sediment layer. The maximum infiltration depth was found to not depend on HL and t. However, HL was able to influence the percentage of MPs penetrating the superficial layer and their distribution within the first 10-15 cm of the sediment layer. None of the MPs were found at depths >20-25 cm, where only PET spheres were detected. Starting from the suffusion theory, a model able to predict the MP maximum infiltration depth in the range of parameter values was provided. The outcome indicates the importance of considering geometrical and hydrodynamic aspects of the riverbed sediment layer to better characterize the spatial and temporal scales of MP transport in freshwater environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirco Mancini
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Florence, Via S. Marta 3, 50139 Florence, Italy.
| | - Simona Francalanci
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Florence, Via S. Marta 3, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Innocenti
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Florence, Via S. Marta 3, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Solari
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Florence, Via S. Marta 3, 50139 Florence, Italy
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