Quantifying microplastic residence times in lakes using mesocosm experiments and transport modelling

Elagami, Hassan; Frei, Sven; Boos, Jan‐Pascal; Trommer, Gabriele; Gilfedder, Benjamin

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2022.119463

Cited by 18 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…It is noteworthy that studies on rural lakes worldwide have low representativeness [69]. In Colombia, contributions to the knowledge of microplastic pollution have focused on marine coastal ecosystems, such as beaches [40][41][42][43][44][45] and coastal lagoons [39,[70][71][72], and a few have focused on continental wetlands [49]. In this study, the temporal variation did not show differential values for the mean abundance of microplastics in water.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…The difference in the concentration of microplastics in the nearby bodies of water was due to the different retention times and streams in each lake. In the case of Luruaco Lake, all streams have a semi-permanent flow of water, mainly during the dry season, and the drainage of the streams is of the subparallel type with a fast flow speed [72]. In Tocagua Lake, the mainstream is Platanal, which contributes seasonally; therefore, the residence time in this water body may be longer, generating little seasonal variability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microplastics Occurrence in Fish from Tocagua Lake, Low Basin Magdalena River, Colombia

Miranda-Peña,

Urquijo,

Arana

et al. 2023

Diversity

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Following global trends, research to determine the presence and abundance of microplastics (MPs) in environmental matrices in Colombia has focused on the coastal and marine environments. However, little scientific information is available on the impact of this pollutant on wetlands and fish. In this study, we provided scientific data on the occurrence and abundance of MPs in water and fish from Tocagua Lake, an important wetland in the Colombian Caribbean, and the unique habitat of wild cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus). Water (72) and fish (228 individuals of six species) samples were collected during four sampling events and two climatic seasons (wet and dry). A total of 1174 microplastic particles were collected in water with an average abundance of microplastics at the six stations sampled during four sampling events of 0.96 ± 0.40 MPs/L, and 648 MPs were identified in the gastrointestinal tract of 191 individuals, corresponding to a frequency of occurrence of 83.7%. Black- and blue-colored fiber MPs were particles that predominated in both matrices (water and fish), and seven types of polymers were identified through attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The abundance, type, and color of MPs in water and fish were not significantly different between seasons.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics Occurrence in Fish from Tocagua Lake, Low Basin Magdalena River, Colombia

Miranda-Peña,

Urquijo,

Arana

et al. 2023

Diversity

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“…The slick diminished over time, likely replenishing microplastics in the water column as they slowly sank to the bottom of the experiment. The larger and denser particles, similar to what was observed by Hoellein et al and Elagami et al, likely sank to the bottom quickly, and stayed there.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Informing the Exposure Landscape: The Fate of Microplastics in a Large Pelagic In-Lake Mesocosm Experiment

Rochman,

Bucci,

Langenfeld

et al. 2024

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Understanding microplastic exposure and effects is critical to understanding risk. Here, we used large, in-lake closedbottom mesocosms to investigate exposure and effects on pelagic freshwater ecosystems. This article provides details about the experimental design and results on the transport of microplastics and exposure to pelagic organisms. Our experiment included three polymers of microplastics (PE, PS, and PET) ranging in density and size. Nominal concentrations ranged from 0 to 29,240 microplastics per liter on a log scale. Mesocosms enclosed natural microbial, phytoplankton, and zooplankton communities and yellow perch (Perca flavescens). We quantified and characterized microplastics in the water column and in components of the food web (biofilm on the walls, zooplankton, and fish). The microplastics in the water stratified vertically according to size and density. After 10 weeks, about 1% of the microplastics added were in the water column, 0.4% attached to biofilm on the walls, 0.01% within zooplankton, and 0.0001% in fish. Visual observations suggest the remaining >98% were in a surface slick and on the bottom. Our study suggests organisms that feed at the surface and in the benthos are likely most at risk, and demonstrates the value of measuring exposure and transport to inform experimental designs and achieve target concentrations in different matrices within toxicity tests.

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“…Although the flux generated by small-scale turbulent eddies, which sustain vertical mixing, is typically several orders of magnitude larger than molecular diffusion, most of the turbulent energy dissipates as heat. Therefore, thermal stratification impedes the exchange of substances and the transfer of energy between layers [91], affecting the distribution of substances in the water column and the settling of particles [92]. Additionally, thermal stratification guides mechanical energy horizontally [93], resulting in smaller differences in the horizontal direction compared to the vertical direction in lakes.…”

Section: How Thermal Stratification Affects Lake Ecology 41 the Impac...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenge to Lake Ecosystems: Changes in Thermal Structure Triggered by Climate Change

Zhang,

Shen,

et al. 2024

Water

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Human activities, global warming, frequent extreme weather events, and changes in atmospheric composition affect the solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, affect mass and heat transfer at the air–water interface, and induce oscillations in wind-driven internal waves. This leads to changes in the spatiotemporal characteristics of thermal stratification in lakes, altering lake circulation patterns and vertical mass transfer. However, thermal stratification structures are often overlooked. The intensification of lake thermal stratification due to warming may lead to increased release of bottom pollutants, spreading through the dynamic behavior of the thermocline to the epilimnion. Moreover, the increased heat storage is beneficial for the growth and development of certain phytoplankton, resulting in rapid transitions of the original steady state of lakes. Consequently, water quality deterioration, ecological degradation, and declining biodiversity may occur. Conventional surface water monitoring may not provide comprehensive, accurate, and timely assessments. Model simulations can better predict future thermal stratification behaviors, reducing financial burdens, providing more refined assessments, and thus preventing subsequent environmental issues.

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Quantifying microplastic residence times in lakes using mesocosm experiments and transport modelling

Cited by 18 publications

References 32 publications

Microplastics Occurrence in Fish from Tocagua Lake, Low Basin Magdalena River, Colombia

Microplastics Occurrence in Fish from Tocagua Lake, Low Basin Magdalena River, Colombia

Informing the Exposure Landscape: The Fate of Microplastics in a Large Pelagic In-Lake Mesocosm Experiment

Challenge to Lake Ecosystems: Changes in Thermal Structure Triggered by Climate Change

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