This study investigated the spatio-temporal variability of microplastics (MPs) in the sediments of the River Thames (UK) catchment over 30 months (July 2019 – Dec 2021). The average MP concentration was 61 items kg−1 d.w., with fragments <1 mm being dominant and polyethylene (PE) the most common polymer. Adjacent land use influenced MP concentrations and types, with industrial sites showing particularly high levels and a prevalence of small beads and industrial polymers. MP concentrations generally decreased after higher winter flows, likely due to sediment rearrangement or winnowing. This study describes the seasonal concentrations and characteristics of MPs present in sediment from the River Thames catchment, and attempts to identify their likely origin. Further, the study provides new insights into the mobility and fate of MPs in riverine settings under varying flow conditions, which is vital given the predicted increases in flooding under various global heating scenarios.

中文翻译：

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泰晤士河流域沉积物中微塑料存在的时空趋势（英国）


本研究调查了 30 个月（2019 年 7 月至 2021 年 12 月）泰晤士河（英国）流域沉积物中微塑料 (MP) 的时空变化。 MP 的平均浓度为 61 个项目 kg−1 dw，其中碎片 <1 mm 占主导地位，聚乙烯 (PE) 是最常见的聚合物。邻近土地利用影响 MP 浓度和类型，工业场地的 MP 浓度特别高，并且小珠和工业聚合物普遍存在。冬季流量增加后，MP 浓度通常会下降，这可能是由于沉积物重新排列或风选所致。这项研究描述了泰晤士河流域沉积物中 MP 的季节性浓度和特征，并试图确定其可能的来源。此外，该研究还为不同水流条件下河流环境中议员的流动性和命运提供了新的见解，考虑到在各种全球变暖情景下预测的洪水增加，这一点至关重要。