Pollution management: FSU researchers create global data set of microplastic in urban stormwater runoff

“As rain falls, lurking within stormwater runoff are hidden microplastics, polluting the water sources they drain into. Even though microplastics originate in urban environments such as cities, existing data sets focus on marine and coastal areas. Without data sources on microplastics in cities, scientists are unable to develop models for predicting stormwater runoff that deal with this pollution. In a multi-institutional study featuring the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, researchers compiled numerous data sources to develop the Dataset of Urban RUnoff Microplastics (DURUM), a standardized data set compiling research on microplastics in urban stormwater from around the globe. The research, which was published in Scientific Data , enables comparisons across studies and supports drainage infrastructure, urban planning and environmental policy and regulation. “Plastic pollution creates issues in the environment and human health. To protect ourselves and the world around us, we need to be able to predict the conditions under which microplastics spread and pollute our water,” said study co-author Assistant Professor Ebrahim Ahmadisharaf . “This was not possible until now. We synthesized several different sources to create a standardized data set, DURUM, which will have global impacts.” How it works When it rains, stormwater runoff systems quickly drain excess water from streets, protecting buildings and their occupants. Stormwater systems also help filter pollution before it reaches rivers, lakes and oceans. In the study, the researchers created a global, standardized data set of microplastics in urban runoff, combining information from 180 sampling procedures from 15 countries to create a centralized hub of information on microplastics. Each entry includes information such as where samples were taken, what microplastics were found in samples, microplastic concentration and more. This study aims to fill the large gap in urban stormwater runoff modeling, which will help in designing reliable stormwater systems to reduce microplastic pollution impacts. “There are already global data sets on microplastics in marine environments, but our study dives into a completely new area,” Ahmadisharaf said. “Urban areas are unique because they have high populations and high plastic consumption. With our current technology, we cannot quickly and reliably detect these high microplastic concentrations. We need to develop new models and validate them with adequate observed data to predict microplastics in urban stormwater runoff.” Why it matters Microplastics are everywhere, and cities are a major source. Wear from tires and plastic accumulation from littering release these tiny fragments into the environment. Effective drainage infrastructure can help prevent microplastic pollution. By helping scientists understand how microplastics move through urban stormwater systems, DURUM can inform the design of drainage infrastructure and mitigation strategies that more effectively reduce microplastic pollution. “Right now, there are no established water quality regulations addressing plastics,” Ahmadisharaf said. “As such regulations are developed, it will be essential to identify and understand the sources of microplastics and the pathways through which they are transported into water bodies. This will help us design mitigation and prevention infrastructure to limit export of plastic to water bodies. The data we compiled supports the models that will inform these crucial decisions.” Future directions The DURUM system is similar to a map that shows how pollution spreads, guiding researchers to new conclusions for developing improved urban stormwater transport systems. The data set is public domain, so researchers all over the globe can access it. Ahmadisharaf and colleagues plan to update DURUM as more data is discovered, enhancing it to support modeling research. “This data set enables new capabilities for validating predictive models. With DURUM, we can be more confident about what our models predict,” Ahmadisharaf said. “It also creates a new understanding of the key drivers of microplastics in urban stormwater runoff and could lead to new insight as we continue to update the data set.” Acknowledgements FSU doctoral student Abdul Mobin Ibna Hafiz in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering was the lead author of this work. Researchers from the University of Missouri, Wageningen University, the University of Exeter, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Tsinghua University and Tulane University contributed to this study. The FSU team’s research was supported by research grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation. The post Pollution management: FSU researchers create global data set of microplastic in urban stormwater runoff appeared first on Florida State University News .

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