Monitoring microplastics in Örebro, Sweden – Characterization of stormwater and wastewater

• Three to five replicate samples of surface water and treated wastewater were processed at seven locations in Örebro between September and November 2019. The levels of microplastics >300 µm, excluding fibers, in surface water varied between 0 - 15 MP/m' (0-10 µg/L), and 32-159 Mp/m' (2-20 µg/L) in treated wastewater. Örebro city contributed with more than 90% to the microplastics discharged into lake Hjälmaren via Svartån. Precipitation and flow varied  Visual characterization was performed to obtain a detailed level of classification to aid in identifying source contributions of microplastics. However, the relatively low number of microplastics, in combination with variations in levels and types of microplastics between the replicate samples, made it difficult to appoint and quantify sources. Primary microplastics in different colours and in the shape of spheres made up 4%, and non­spherical semitransparent primary microplastics made up 44%, of the total number of MP particles from the STP. Films made up a larger part of microplastics in stormwater recipients compared to in effluent from the STP, which were attributed to littering being an important source of this microplastic type. Artificial turfs were estimated to contribute with 3-7 % of the microplastics in stormwater in the form of green polyethylene straws. 

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Microplatstic

monitoring

sewage treatment plant (STP) effluent

stormwaer

surface water

wastewater

Dagvatten

mikroplats

miljöövervakning

reningsverk

spillvatten

Screening

Screening

Miljögiftssamordning

Toxic

Nationell miljöövervakning

National

Miljöövervakning

Miljöövervakning

Flourishing Lakes and Streams

Levande sjöar och vattendrag

Sveriges miljömål

Environmental Objectives

Hav i balans samt levande kust och skärgård

A Balanced Marine Environ­ment, Flourishing Coastal Areas and Archipelagos

A Non-Toxic Environment

Giftfri miljö

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

rap (subject category)