Microplastics in Urban Environments: Distribution, Fate, and Transport

Microplastics (MPs) have become a growing environmental concern, particularly in urban areas where anthropogenic activities intensify their presence in ecosystems. This research investigates MPs’ distribution, fate, and transport in urban environments, focusing on stormwater retention (SWR) ponds, bioretention systems (BRS), and saturated porous media. Field studies analyzed MPs in freshwater sediments of SWR ponds across residential, educational, and mixed urban land-use types, identifying distinct contamination patterns. Vertical distribution analyses in bioretention media highlighted the potential of BRS as a green infrastructure for retaining MPs. Laboratory experiments further explored MPs’ transport and retention in saturated porous media, examining the effects of key physicochemical properties such as ionic strength (IS) and pH. Findings revealed how environmental conditions influence MPs’ mobility and retention. This research contributes valuable insights into MPs’ behavior, distribution, transport, and potential mitigation strategies, advancing understanding of their role in urban pollution and their interaction with green infrastructure systems.