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

Abstract

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.

Citation

Trusler, M. M., Moss-Hayes, V. L., Cook, S., Lomax, B. H., & Vane, C. H. (2024). Microplastics pollution in sediments of the Thames and Medway estuaries, UK: Organic matter associations and predominance of polyethylene. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 208, Article 116971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116971

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 8, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Sep 14, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-11
• Deposit Date: Sep 21, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 26, 2024
• Journal: Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Print ISSN: 0025-326X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 208
• Article Number: 116971
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116971
• Keywords: Tideway, Particle-size, Plastic polymer, London, Estuary, Microplastic pollution
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/39730646
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X24009482?via%3Dihub