First Evidence of Microplastic Presence in Bed Load Sediments of a Small Urban Stream in Warsaw

Adam Krajewski (), Agnieszka Hejduk and Leszek Hejduk
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Adam Krajewski: Department of Water Engineering and Applied Geology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences–SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Agnieszka Hejduk: Water Center, Warsaw University of Life Sciences–SGGW, Ciszewskiego 6, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Leszek Hejduk: Department of Water Engineering and Applied Geology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences–SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) are considered as a contaminant of widespread global concern. Due to their small size, MPs become bioavailable to many types of organisms and affect them. However, there is still little known about MP release on land, storage in soils and sediments, or their transport by runoff in rivers. Thus, the aim of this work was to present the results of the first, initial investigation on microplastic presence in an urban stream located in Warsaw, Poland. A simple and relatively inexpensive procedure that leads step-by-step to the detection of microplastics in bed load sediment is presented. It consists of sampling, sieving, density separation, organic matter reduction, and Nile Red staining. The presence of MP in the channel of Służew Creek was confirmed. The estimated amount of particles ranged from 191 to 279 pieces per 30 g of bed load sediment for the selected sampling sites. The number of particles seemed to increase with the catchment area. There is a need for further broad research focusing, among others, on the standardization of methods and laboratory procedures leading to microplastic detection.

Keywords: microplastic; pollution; bed load; sediment; urban catchment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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