Factors influencing MPs presence in urban waterways

Abstract

The presence and distribution of various MP particles exhibit inconsistent patterns in urban waterways. Factors including land use type and anthropogenic activities are regarded as the dominant contributor of MPs in urban waterways as these are the major emission sources of plastic pollution. In addition to the diverse origins of MP pollution, environmental factors such as hydrodynamic conditions, photothermal degradation and the interactions between MPs and natural systems influence the presence of MPs by altering their properties such as size, shape and density. This chapter discusses the influence of emission sources, namely, land-based, aquatic-based and atmospheric-based sources, and environmental factors, namely, hydrodynamic conditions, photothermal degradation, and microorganism colonisation on the presence of MPs abundance and types in urban waterways. Such understanding will guide environmental risk management and critical decision-making related to source tracking, and impact mitigation of MP pollutants in urban aquatic systems.