Concentrations and morphology of microplastics in the Seine river estuary (original) (raw)
Data in Brief
Plastic pollution in oceans and rivers is of high concern because of its persistence in the environment and its potential impact on ecosystems. However, there is a specific lack of data in rivers. Here we present data from the Seine river banks in a historical polluted shore. Data were classified using international MSFD and OSPAR classifications. The sampled site is a quadrat of 1 m 2 located downstream in the estuary in a visual maximum along a 1 km shore covered by plastics. A total of 20,259 plastic debris were individually counted, classified and weighted by category for a total mass higher than 4 kg. Half of the plastic debris in number are represented by preproduction pellets.
Seasonal Abundance and Distribution Patterns of Microplastics in the Lis River, Portugal
Sustainability, 2022
The majority of microplastics (MP) found in the marine environment have land-based sources and rivers are known as carriers of these particles to the ocean. This work is the first to study MP in the Lis River Basin and coastal shoreline (total nine sampling sites) and the potential relationship with inputs from 105 companies/units. We report the seasonal abundance, typology, colour, size, and polymer distribution of MP in surface water and sediment. To the collected samples, a digestion protocol was applied, followed by filtration. For sediment, an MP density separation was performed prior to filtration. MP were mostly fibres (0.02 to 1111.11 items.m−3 in water and 10.66 to 1609.64 items.kg−1 in sediment) and fragments (0.02 to 2311.11 items.m−3 in water and 10.66 to 501.01 items.kg−1 in sediment). The most frequent colours were transparent and blue, and MP were mostly smaller than 1 mm in water and 2 mm in sediment samples. The most abundant polymers in water were polyethylene (37%...
Assessment of floating plastic debris in surface water along the Seine River
Environmental Pollution, 2014
This study is intended to examine the quality and quantity of floating plastic debris in the River Seine through use of an extensive regional network of floating debris-retention booms; it is one of the first attempts to provide reliable information on such debris at a large regional scale. Plastic debris represented between 0.8% and 5.1% of total debris collected by weight. A significant proportion consisted of food wrappers/containers and plastic cutlery, probably originating from voluntary or involuntary dumping, urban discharges and surface runoff. Most plastic items are made of polypropylene, polyethylene and, to a lesser extent, polyethylene terephthalate. By extrapolation, some 27 tons of floating plastic debris are intercepted annually by this network; corresponding to 2.3 g per Parisian inhabitant per year. Such data could serve to provide a first evaluation of floating plastic inputs conveyed by rivers.
Distribution patterns of microplastics within the plankton of a tropical estuary
Environmental Research, 2014
The Goiana Estuary was studied regarding the seasonal and spatial variations of microplastics ( o5 mm) and their quantification relative to the zooplankton. The total density (n 100 m À 3 ) of microplastics represented half of the total fish larvae density and was comparable to fish eggs density. Soft, hard plastics, threads and paint chips were found in the samples (n ¼216). Their origins are probably the river basin, the sea and fisheries (including the lobster fleet). In some occasions, the amount of microplastics surpassed that of Ichthyoplankton. The highest amount of microplastics was observed during the late rainy season, when the environment is under influence of the highest river flow, which induces the runoff of plastic fragments to the lower estuary. The density of microplastics in the water column will determine their bioavailability to planktivorous organisms, and then to larger predators, possibly promoting the transfer of microplastic between trophic levels. These findings are important for better informing researchers in future works and as basic information for managerial actions.
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 2020
Plastic debris occurring in freshwater environments, which can either come from the surrounding terrestrial areas or transported from upstream, has been identified as one of the main sources and routes of plastic pollution in marine systems. The ocean is the final destination of land- based microplastic sources, but compared to marine environments, the occurrence and effects of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems remain largely unknown. A thorough examination of scientific literature on abundance, distribution patterns, and characteristics of microplastics in freshwater environments in Mediterranean tributary rivers has shown a substantial lack of information and the need to apply adequate and uniform measurement methods.
Microplastics in water, sediments and macroinvertebrates in a small river of NW Spain
Limnetica, 2023
Microplastics in water, sediments and macroinvertebrates in a small river of NW Spain Microplastics (MPs; plastic particles < 5 mm in size) are very common nowadays and ubiquitous in the environment and can cause harm to aquatic organisms. Around 300 million metric tonnes of plastic are manufactured each year and they are regularly mismanaged. Therefore, MPs are frequently found in the environment. Anthropogenic activity in urban areas is considered one of the major sources of MPs. In view of this, we hypothesized, that MPs are present in all areas of rivers, even in riverheads. We analyzed macroinvertebrates in an urban river for MPs and discuss their potential environmental impact. We collected water samples from the centre of the river and filtered the water. Additionally, we collected sediment samples from the the bottom (S1 and S2, both samples collected specifically for sediments analysis) and from the benthic sediment (S3, sample collected for macroinvertebrates identification) from which macroinvertebrates were sampled for MP analysis and for taxonomic identification in order to estimate the water quality of the river, following the protocol for calculating the IBMWP (MAGRAMA, 2011). Sampling took place in the Gafos River (NW Spain) during summer 2020 at three different sampling sites at the head of the river called upstream (G1), in the middle part of the river and upstream of a town (G2) and in the downstream area before the river mouth in the Atlantic Ocean (G3). Different microplastic fibres and particles were found in all water samples (G1, G2 and G3) and in some of the sediment samples. Analysis of the different types of microplastics was carried out by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance mode (ATR-FTIR). The majority of microplastics in water, sediment and biota consisted of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the abundances of MPs were very similar. We found more MP particles in biota and water (35 pieces in each compartment) than in sediments (28). Microplastics were found in the cases of Trichoptera families like Lepidostomatidae and Limnephilidae, and inside the body of some Odonata families such as Gomphidae. This confirms the presence of MPs in aquatic organisms and in habitats of an urban river in Spain. Since MPs have been found in freshwater habitats globally, future studies should analyse which macroinvertebrates could be used as MP bioindicators.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
The Tara Microplastics mission was conducted for 7 months to investigate plastic pollution along nine major rivers in Europe—Thames, Elbe, Rhine, Seine, Loire, Garonne, Ebro, Rhone, and Tiber. An extensive suite of sampling protocols was applied at four to five sites on each river along a salinity gradient from the sea and the outer estuary to downstream and upstream of the first heavily populated city. Biophysicochemical parameters including salinity, temperature, irradiance, particulate matter, large and small microplastics (MPs) concentration and composition, prokaryote and microeukaryote richness, and diversity on MPs and in the surrounding waters were routinely measured onboard the French research vessel Tara or from a semi-rigid boat in shallow waters. In addition, macroplastic and microplastic concentrations and composition were determined on river banks and beaches. Finally, cages containing either pristine pieces of plastics in the form of films or granules, and others cont...
Distribution Patterns of Microplastics in Seawater Surface at a Portuguese Estuary and Marine Park
Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2020
Measuring local levels of marine pollution by microplastics (MP) and identifying potential sources in coastal areas is essential to evaluate the associated impacts to environment and biota. The accumulation of floating MP at the sea surface is of great concern as the neustonic habitat consists of a feeding ground for primary consumers (including filter-feeders) and active predators, which makes these organisms a relevant via of MP input into the marine trophic chain. Here, a baseline evaluation of MP accumulation at the sea surface was conducted with a neuston net (335 μm mesh) at the Arrábida coastal area, in Portugal. The study site encompasses a marine protected area and an estuary, both under strong anthropogenic pressures due to multiple activities taking place. A short-term investigation on local spatiotemporal distribution, concentration and composition of MP was performed for the first time, through the monthly collection (summer 2018 to winter 2019) of samples at 6 stations...
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2025
Most of the literature on microplastics (MPs) focuses on freshwater or terrestrial ecosystems, frequently overlooking their interconnections with the marine environments. This oversight is worrying given that both ecosystems serve as primary pathways for the introduction of MPs into marine environments. This review synthesizes existing literature on MPs in both freshwater and marine ecosystems across all six continents. The most commonly produced plastic polymers in industry are polyethylene (36 %) and polypropylene (21 %), and studies revealed that these two materials are the most abundant in aquatic ecosystems. Primary and secondary MPs originate from a range of sources including land-based disposal, the ocean, airborne deposition, wastewater treatment facilities, automobiles, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, synthetic textiles, and insect repellents. Notably, secondary MPs, which are formed from the breakdown of larger plastic items comprise approximately 69-81% of marine debris, especially in urbanized, densely populated areas. The inconsistencies of the methodologies (sampling, extraction, and quantification) and the units employed for result presentations are part of the major limitations in MPs research. Environmental phenomena such as heteroaggregation, weathering, adsorption, leaching, and fragmentation are the major factors influencing the behavior, fate, and degradation process of plastic particles. The physicochemical properties of plastic polymers, such as density, crystallinity, as well as bioturbation, meteorological forces, and wind actions, including currents, waves, and tides, are responsible for biofouling, aggregation, sinking into the bottom sediment, resuspension, and the vertical, horizontal, and spatiotemporal distributions and transport of MPs. The potential solutions to mitigate plastic pollution are grounded in the 3Rs framework, which includes reducing production and consumption, advancing the biotechnological, chemical and microbial development of degradable polymers, promoting reusable plastic products with lower environmental impacts over their lifetimes, and recycling waste into new products. The regulatory policies on single-use plastics commonly involve permanent bans and financial penalties for violators. In addition, nations such as the United States, the Netherlands, and northern Europe have introduced economic incentives to encourage the return of reusable materials to reduce plastic waste and the resulting envrionmental pollution.