Local Monitoring Should Inform Local Solutions: Morphological Assemblages of Microplastics Are Similar within a Pathway, But Relative Total Concentrations Vary Regionally

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00926
• Publication Date: 2022-06-22T17:01:56Z
• Authors: Chelsea M. Rochman; Jelena Grbic; Arielle Earn; Paul A. Helm; Elizabeth A. Hase...; Mark Trice; Keenan Munno; Hannah De Frond; Natasha Djuric; Samantha Santoro; Ashima Kaura; Debra Denton; Swee Teh
• Keywords: Urban runoff

Pathways for microplastics to aquatic ecosystems include agricultural runoff, urban and treated or untreated wastewater. To better understand the importance of each pathway as a vector into waterbodies mitigation, we sampled stormwater wastewater effluent, downstream in four regions across North America: Sacramento Delta, Mississippi River, Lake Ontario, Chesapeake Bay. The highest concentrations varied by region: runoff Delta effluent Material types were diverse not unique pathways. However, PERMANOVA found significant differences morphological assemblages among pathways (p < 0.005), suggesting fibers signature rubbery fragments stormwater. Moreover, relationship between watershed characteristics particle watersheds (e.g., with parameters only being important Delta). Overall, our results suggest that local monitoring is essential inform effective mitigation strategies assessing morphologies should be prioritized programs identify contamination.