Microplastics in stormwater

In recent years it has been an increased focus on microplastics, a pollutant group also found in stormwater. Actually, stormwater is one of the main vectors for microplastics from the urban environments and roads to the aquatic environment.

Microplastic particles can be seen as a pollutant in themselves, they may adsorb other pollutants which then will be transported on the particle to the surrounding environment and the plastic may contain harmful substances.

In DRIZZLE we are studying sources to microplastics in urban stormwater and snow from catchments with different land use in order to increase the knowledge about which microplastics are transported with stormwater and the amounts. Furthermore, studies are conducted to investigate the accumulation of microplastics in stormwater treatment facilities such as gully pots, ponds and biofilters. In addition, the treatment efficiency of microplastic in different size ranges were evaluated on a biofilter where influent and effluent water was sampled and analysed.

Microplastic particles can be seen as a pollutant in themselves, they may adsorb other pollutants which then will be transported on the particle to the surrounding environment and the plastic may contain harmful substances.

In DRIZZLE we are studying sources to microplastics in urban stormwater and snow from catchments with different land use in order to increase the knowledge about which microplastics are transported with stormwater and the amounts. Furthermore, studies are conducted to investigate the accumulation of microplastics in stormwater treatment facilities such as gully pots, ponds and biofilters. In addition, the treatment efficiency of microplastic in different size ranges were evaluated on a biofilter where influent and effluent water was sampled and analysed.

Heléne Österlund, Maria Viklander and Godecke-Tobias Blecken