Microplastics in a salt-wedge estuary: Vertical structure and tidal dynamics

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

卷:160

Article

Defontaine, Sophie¹  Sous, Damien^2,3  Tesan, Javier²  Monperrus, Mathilde⁴  Lenoble, Veronique²  Lanceleur, Laurent⁴ 

[1] Univ Pau & Pays Adour, Lab Math & Leurs Applicat Pau Federat MIRA, CNRS, E2S,UPPA,UMR5142, F-64000 Pau, France

[2] Aix Marseille Univ, Univ Toulon, CNRS, IRD,Mediterranean Inst Oceanog MIO, La Garde, France

[3] Univ Pau & Pays Adour, Lab Sci Ingn Appl Mecan & Genie Elect SIAME, UPPA, E2S,MIRA,EA4581, F-64600 Anglet, France

[4] Univ Pau & Pays Adour, UPPA, E2S, CNRS,IPREM, Anglet, France

关键词: Salt-wedge estuary;    Microplastics;    Vertical distribution;    Field sampling;    Numerical Modelling;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111688

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

The abundance and distribution of microplastics in estuaries have been barely documented, and generally without accounting for the vertical structure in the water column. This study presents the very first data on the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in the Adour Estuary, SW France. The experimental data set was complemented by numerical simulations to gain understanding of the behaviour of suspended microplastics. Microplastics were found throughout the water column with a mean abundance of 1.13 part/m(3). Films and fragments were the most abundant types of particles collected. Numerical simulations demonstrated that vertical distribution of microplastics in the water column is highly dependent on particle characteristics and on the local hydrodynamics. The main trend is that neutrally-buoyant microplastics are easily flushed out while heavier microplastics are prone to entrapment in the estuary, in particular under low discharge conditions. The present study suggest that estuaries could be a sink of microplastics.

【 授权许可】

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