Impact of Type and Shape of Microplastics on the Transport in Column Experiments

The pervasive nature of plastic and the longevity of plastics leaves a legacy of microplastics (MPs) that contaminate our environment, including drinking water sources. Although MPs have been documented in every environmental setting, a paucity of research has focused on the transport and fate of MP...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ground water 2024-07, Vol.62 (4), p.537-547
Main Authors: Schenkel, Cheyanne A., Brown, Megan R.M., Lenczewski, Melissa E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquifers
Drinking water
Environmental factors
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Groundwater
Groundwater - chemistry
longevity
Microplastics
Microplastics - analysis
Particle shape
Plastic debris
Plastic pollution
Plastics
Polyamide resins
Polyamides
polyesters
polyethylene
Polymers
Polypropylene
polypropylenes
Shape
Sodium chloride
Tracers
Water Movements
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
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Summary:The pervasive nature of plastic and the longevity of plastics leaves a legacy of microplastics (MPs) that contaminate our environment, including drinking water sources. Although MPs have been documented in every environmental setting, a paucity of research has focused on the transport and fate of MPs in groundwater. Previous field and laboratory studies have shown that MPs can migrate through aquifer material and are influenced by environmental factors. This study used controlled column experiments to investigate the influence of polymer type (polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester) and particle shape (fragment, fiber, and sphere) on MP retardation and retention. The results showed that all individual MP types investigated were retarded compared to the NaCl tracer, with a retardation factor ranging from 1.53 to 1.75. While hypothesized that presence of multiple types and shapes could change mobility, the results indicate that this hypothesis is not correct for the conditions tested. This study provides new insights into MP transport in groundwater systems based on the characteristics of MP particles. In addition, this study demonstrates the need for further research on types of MPs and under more conditions, especially in the presence of a mixture of types and shapes of MPs to gauge what is occurring in natural systems where many MPs are present together. Article impact statement: Microplastics are retarded approximately the same amount regardless of type or shape tested.
ISSN:0017-467X
1745-6584
1745-6584
DOI:10.1111/gwat.13375