Distribution characteristics of microplastics in storm-drain inlet sediments affected by the types of urban functional areas, economic and demographic conditions in southern Beijing

Donghai Yuan; Linghao Zhao; Chenling Yan; Jijiao Zhou; Yanqi Cui; Ruiying Wu; Jun Cui; Jiazhuo Wang; Chen Wang; Yingying Kou

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.115224

Distribution characteristics of microplastics in storm-drain inlet sediments affected by the types of urban functional areas, economic and demographic conditions in southern Beijing

Environ Res. 2023 Mar 1:220:115224. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115224. Epub 2023 Jan 7.

Authors

Donghai Yuan¹, Linghao Zhao¹, Chenling Yan², Jijiao Zhou³, Yanqi Cui⁴, Ruiying Wu¹, Jun Cui⁵, Jiazhuo Wang⁴, Chen Wang⁴, Yingying Kou⁶

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing, 100044, PR China.
² Beijing Key Laboratory of Municipal Solid Waste Detection Analysis and Evaluation, Beijing Municipal Institute of City Management, Beijing, 100028, PR China.
³ Huzhou Environmental Sanitation Management Center, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, 313000, PR China.
⁴ CAUPD(Beijing) Planning & Design Consultants Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100044.
⁵ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing, 100044, PR China. Electronic address: kouyy@bucea.edu.cn.

PMID: 36626948
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115224

Abstract

A storm-drain inlet is an important link in the transport of microplastic pollutants in urban rainwater runoff. In three functional districts (agricultural, commercial, and residential) from Beijing South 2nd Ring Road to South 6th Ring Road, microplastics in storm-drain inlet sediments were analyzed for abundance and characteristics. The abundance of microplastics in the collected samples ranged from 1121 ± 247 items kg^-1 to 7393 ± 491 items kg^-1. Among the sample areas, the commercial area had the greatest abundance (11094 items kg^-1), while the agricultural area had the lowest (833 items kg^-1). The microplastics in the samples were mainly fragments, accounting for 50.4%. Microplastics of less than 1 mm accounted for 74.8%. The color of microplastics was diverse, with colored MPs accounting for 26% and transparent ones for 47.8%. Most of the polymers detected were PET, PS, and PP, which are the most commonly used polymers. Overall, the results provide baseline data on microplastic pollution and its associated risks, in addition to guidelines for controlling runoff pollution.

Keywords: Microplastics; Regional comparison; Runoff; Storm drain inlet sediment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bays
Beijing
Demography
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Geologic Sediments
Microplastics*
Plastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical