Microplastics pollution in sediments of the Thames and Medway estuaries, UK: organic matter associations and predominance of polyethylene

Trusler, Megan M.; Moss-Hayes, Vicky L.; Cook, Sarah; Lomax, Barry H.; Vane, Christopher H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8150-3640. 2024 Microplastics pollution in sediments of the Thames and Medway estuaries, UK: organic matter associations and predominance of polyethylene. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 208, 116971. 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116971

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116971

Abstract/Summary

Microplastics at 10 sites along a 77 km transect of the river Thames estuary (UK) and 5 sites along 29 km of the Medway estuary were separated from sediment and analysed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Microplastics were observed at all sites. Highest Thames concentrations were in urban London between Chelsea and West Thurrock (average 170.80 particles kg−1 ± 46.64, 3.36 mg kg−1 ± 1.79 by mass), mid-outer estuary sites were two to three times lower. Microplastics were slightly dominated by particles (54 %) over fibres (45 %), including polymer types ranked: polyethylene > PET > polypropylene > polyamide. Medway microplastics decreased seaward, with one urban-municipal site impacted by a combined-sewer-overflow containing a high proportion of fibres (Rochester, 484 particles kg−1, 7.39 mg kg−1 by mass). Microplastic abundance was correlated to organic carbon (TOC %) (R2 of 0.71 Thames and 0.96 Medway), but not sediment particle size. Sedimentary microplastics accumulation in the Thames was controlled by urbanisation-distance, and site hydrodynamics.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116971
ISSN:	0025326X
Additional Keywords:	IGRD
Date made live:	19 Sep 2024 12:03 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538044

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116971

ISSN:

0025326X

Additional Keywords:

IGRD

Date made live:

19 Sep 2024 12:03 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538044