Identification of Microplastic Accumulation Zones in a Tidal River: A Case Study of the Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada

Shahrzad Hamidiaala (), Golnoosh Babajamaaty, Abdolmajid Mohammadian (), Abolghasem Pilechi and Mohammad Ghazizadeh
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Shahrzad Hamidiaala: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Golnoosh Babajamaaty: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Abdolmajid Mohammadian: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Abolghasem Pilechi: National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
Mohammad Ghazizadeh: National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-21

Abstract: Sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems requires effective strategies to monitor and mitigate microplastic pollution, particularly in vulnerable tidal river systems. Microplastic accumulation in these environments poses significant environmental risks, threatening biodiversity, ecosystem health, and long-term water quality. This study employs a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model (TELEMAC-3D—v8p5) coupled with a Lagrangian particle tracking model (CaMPSim-3D—v1.2.1) to simulate microplastic transport dynamics in the lower Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada. The model incorporates tidal forcing, riverine hydrodynamics, and mixing processes, and was validated with good agreement against observed water levels. This model provides a high-resolution representation of microplastic dispersion under varying release scenarios, including emissions from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). A novel approach is proposed to identify microplastic accumulation zones using the OPTICS (Ordering Points to Identify the Clustering Structure) clustering algorithm. Accumulation zone locations remain spatially consistent despite variations in release volume. Persistent clusters occurred near channel constrictions and shoreline segments associated with flow deceleration. These findings demonstrate the robustness of the method and provide a systematic framework for prioritizing high-risk areas, supporting targeted monitoring and informing sustainable estuarine management.

Keywords: sustainable river management; microplastics; estuarine hydrodynamics; particle tracking; accumulation zones; OPTICS clustering (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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