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Occurence of microplastics in the hyporheic zone of rivers

Title data

Frei, Sven ; Piehl, Sarah ; Gilfedder, Benjamin Silas ; Löder, Martin G. J. ; Krutzke, Jennifer ; Wilhelm, Laura ; Laforsch, Christian:
Occurence of microplastics in the hyporheic zone of rivers.
In: Scientific Reports. Vol. 9 (2019) . - 15256.
ISSN 2045-2322
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-51741-5

Official URL: Volltext

Project information

Project title:
Project's official title
Project's id
Sonderforschungsbereich 1357 ​Mikroplastik Verständnis der Mechanismen und Prozesse der biologischen Effekte, des Transports und der Bildung: Von Modell- zu komplexen Systemen als Grundlage neuer Lösungsansätze
SFB 1357 Mikroplastik - project number 391977956
Automatisiertes Verfahren zur Analyse der Kontamination von Süßgewässern mit Mikroplastikpartikeln und Anwendung am Ökosystem Main
Oberfrankenstiftung
Open Access Publizieren
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Project financing: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Andere
Oberfankenstiftung

Abstract in another language

Although recent studies indicate that fluvial systems can be accumulation areas for microplastics (MPs), the common perception still treats rivers and streams primarily as pure transport vectors for MPs. In this study we investigate the occurrence of MPs in a yet unnoticed but essential compartment of fluvial ecosystems - the hyporheic zone (HZ). Larger MP particles (500–5,000 µm) were detected using attenuated total reflectance (ATR) - Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Our analysis of MPs (500–5,000 µm) in five freeze cores extracted for the Roter Main River sediments (Germany) showed that MPs were detectable down to a depth of 0.6 m below the streambed in low abundances (≪1 particle per kg dry weight). Additionally, one core was analyzed as an example for smaller MPs (20–500 µm) with focal plane array (FPA)- based µFTIR spectroscopy. Highest MP abundances (~30,000 particles per kg dry weight) were measured for pore scale particles (20–50 µm). The detected high abundances indicate that the HZ can be a significant accumulation area for pore scale MPs (20–50 µm), a size fraction that yet is not considered in literature. As the HZ is known as an important habitat for invertebrates representing the base of riverine food webs, aquatic food webs can potentially be threatened by the presence of MPs in the HZ. Hyporheic exchange is discussed as a potential mechanism leading to a transfer of pore scale MPs from surface flow into streambed sediments and as a potential vector for small MPs to enter the local aquifer. MPs in the HZ therefore may be a potential risk for drinking water supplies, particularly during drinking water production via river bank filtration.

Further data

Item Type: Article in a journal
Refereed: Yes
Institutions of the University: Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology > Chair Animal Ecology I
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology > Chair Animal Ecology I > Chair Animal Ecology I - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Chair Hydrology
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Chair Hydrology > Chair Hydrology - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Stefan Peiffer
Profile Fields > Advanced Fields > Polymer and Colloid Science
Profile Fields > Advanced Fields > Ecology and the Environmental Sciences
Research Institutions > Central research institutes > Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research- BayCEER
Research Institutions > Collaborative Research Centers, Research Unit > SFB 1357 - MIKROPLASTIK
Faculties
Profile Fields
Profile Fields > Advanced Fields
Research Institutions
Research Institutions > Central research institutes
Research Institutions > Collaborative Research Centers, Research Unit
Result of work at the UBT: Yes
DDC Subjects: 500 Science > 500 Natural sciences
500 Science > 550 Earth sciences, geology
500 Science > 570 Life sciences, biology
Date Deposited: 21 Nov 2019 08:10
Last Modified: 23 Jan 2024 08:19
URI: https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/53361