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. 2023 Apr:189:114709.
doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114709. Epub 2023 Feb 22.

Quantifying environmental emissions of microplastics from urban rivers in Melbourne, Australia

Subharthe Samandra  1 , Jai Singh  2 , Katie Plaisted  3 , Olivia J Mescall  3 , Bob Symons  3 , Shay Xie  3 , Amanda V Ellis  4 , Bradley O Clarke  5
Affiliations

Quantifying environmental emissions of microplastics from urban rivers in Melbourne, Australia

Subharthe Samandra et al. Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Apr.

Abstract

This study aims to understand the amount and type of microplastics flowing into Port Phillip Bay from urban rivers around Melbourne. Water samples were collected from the Patterson, Werribee, Maribyrnong, and Yarra Rivers, which contribute 97 % to the total flow into Port Phillip Bay. On average, the rivers contained a mean of 9 ± 15 microplastics/L and ranged from 4 ± 3 microplastics/L (Patterson) to 22 ± 11 microplastics/L (Werribee). Of the eight polymers investigated, polyamide and polypropylene were the most frequently detected polymers. Using the mean concentration of each river, the flow of microplastics into Port Philip Bay was estimated to be 7.5 × 106 microplastics per day and 3.7 × 1010 microplastics per year. To fully understand the fate and transport of microplastics into Port Phillip Bay, this study would be the foundation for a more in-depth investigation. Here, further samples will be collected at more points along the river and at the midpoint of each season.

Keywords: Mass flow; Microplastics; Port Philip Bay; Surface water.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.